Solid State Storage Internal Copy via Shadow Memory
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current non-volatile memory-based mass storage devices face bottlenecks in data transfer speed during file copies, as they require accessing the host computer system, leading to delays and bandwidth contention due to the need for data to be read and written through system memory.
Innovation Solution
A mass storage device with a cache memory and shadow memory allows for internal data copying within the device, bypassing the host computer system by loading data into shadow memory and writing it directly to the target location, reducing the need for system bus transactions and conserving bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is copied through the host computer system using system memory, then data can be transferred between locations on the storage device, but the transfer speed is limited by the host interface bandwidth and system bus contention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data copying function from the host computer system and implements it locally within the storage device using a shadow memory. This allows data to be copied between locations on the storage device without consuming host interface bandwidth or system bus resources, directly resolving the bandwidth consumption issue while maintaining fast transfer speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The shadow memory acts as an intermediary buffer between the storage media and the host system. During copy operations, data is first loaded into the shadow memory from the source location, then written to the destination location. This intermediary structure enables internal copying that bypasses the host interface bottleneck
2Productivity
If data is copied through the host computer system, then file copy operations can be performed, but the round-trip time through multiple controllers and the system bus creates substantial delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the file copy operation from the host system processing path and executes it entirely within the storage device controller. By loading data into shadow memory and writing it to the destination location without involving the host computer system, the round-trip time through multiple controllers and system buses is eliminated, dramatically improving file copy efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device performs file copy operations on its own without requiring host system intervention. The controller autonomously manages the copying process by reading from source locations, storing in shadow memory, and writing to destination locations, making the system self-sufficient for copy operations and eliminating external bottlenecks
Data Source
AI summary
A mass storage device and method that utilize storage memory and a shadow memory capable of increasing the speed associated with copying data from one location to another location within the storage memory without the need to access a host computer for the copy transaction. A controller of the mass storage device receives a file copy request for a file to be copied between first and second locations within the storage memory. Data from the first location within the storage memory is then loaded into a shadow memory means of the mass storage device, and then the data is written from the shadow memory means to the second location within the storage memory.