Solid State Drive Host Memory Translation Layer Offloading
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing solid state drive architecture is not cost-effective due to the need for a cache memory to store and manage the flash translation layer table, which increases fabrication costs.
Innovation Solution
The system eliminates the cache memory by using a host device's memory to store device information, including the flash translation layer table, and converts commands through a driver to enable operation without a cache, reducing fabrication costs and enhancing system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cache memory is added to store the flash translation layer table, then the solid state drive can operate normally with fast data access, but the fabrication cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the flash translation layer table from the solid state drive's cache memory and relocates it to the host device's memory. This removes the requirement for cache memory in the solid state drive while maintaining the functionality of fast data access and normal operation. The host device's memory serves as the storage location for the translation layer table, eliminating the need for additional cache memory components in the solid state drive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the host device's memory serve multiple functions: it stores both the flash translation layer table and acts as a cache for data operations. By utilizing the host's existing memory resources for multiple purposes, the system eliminates the need for dedicated cache memory in the solid state drive, thereby reducing fabrication costs while maintaining operational reliability.
2Ease of manufacture
If a cache memory is eliminated to reduce costs, then fabrication cost decreases, but the solid state drive cannot normally operate without it
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the host device's memory as an intermediary to store the flash translation layer table. This intermediary solution allows the solid state drive to operate without its own cache memory, as the host's memory fulfills the caching and translation functions. The driver software acts as another intermediary, managing the translation operations between the solid state drive and the host's memory resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the host device's existing memory resources and processing capabilities to perform functions that would traditionally require dedicated cache memory in the solid state drive. The host's CPU and memory system service the translation and caching needs, allowing the solid state drive to operate normally without these components.
3Ease of manufacture
If the flash translation layer table is stored in host memory instead of cache memory, then fabrication cost is reduced, but data transmission efficiency may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the flash translation layer table storage with the host device's existing memory operations. By combining the translation layer table storage with the host's memory space and utilizing the host's memory management capabilities, the system achieves efficient data transmission without requiring separate cache memory in the solid state drive. The driver integrates translation operations with host memory access patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-loading the flash translation layer table into the host's memory before data operations are needed. This preliminary placement of the translation table in readily accessible host memory ensures that translation operations can proceed efficiently during data transmission, maintaining productivity despite the elimination of dedicated cache memory.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes a host device, an external bus and a storage device. A driver is installed in the host device. The external bus is connected with the host device. The external bus supports a communication protocol. The storage device includes a controlling circuit and a non-volatile memory. After the storage device issues a request to the host device according to the communication protocol, a reserved space is created in a host memory of the host device in response to the request, and a device information from the storage device is stored into the reserved space. While the host device issues a first command to operate the storage device, the first command is converted into a second command by the driver according to the device information, and then the second command is transmitted to the storage device.