Storage Address Translation Matched to Device Page Size

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computing devices inefficiently translate virtual addresses to physical addresses without considering the page size of storage devices, leading to unnecessary resource usage and increased operations.

Innovation Solution

A computing device with a first storage controller, memory, and processor that uses a page table to efficiently translate virtual addresses to physical addresses based on the page size of external storage devices, allowing for optimized access requests.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If address translation is performed in fixed size units (e.g. 4KB) regardless of storage device page size, then the translation process is simple and uniform, but the number of addresses translated increases unnecessarily leading to reduced productivity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress translation efficiencyVSAvoidtime for address translation operations
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the address translation unit size variable rather than fixed. The translation unit size dynamically adapts to match the storage device's page size, allowing the system to optimize translation efficiency for different storage devices with different page sizes (e.g., 4KB, 8KB, 16KB). This dynamic adjustment reduces the number of translation operations needed while maintaining translation accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of translation unit size from a fixed value (4KB) to a variable parameter that matches the storage device's page size. By modifying this parameter based on the specific storage device being accessed, the system achieves more efficient address translation with fewer operations, directly improving productivity and reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If address translation uses fixed size units regardless of page size, then the translation mechanism is simple, but resource usage increases due to unnecessary translation operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational resources for address translationVSAvoidaddress translation mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The translation mechanism dynamically adjusts its operation based on the storage device's page size. Instead of always translating every fixed-size unit, the system translates only the necessary units matching the page size, reducing computational resource consumption while adding dynamic adaptation capability to the mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

By changing the translation unit size parameter to match page size, the system reduces the total number of translation operations required. This parameter change optimizes resource usage by eliminating redundant translations, with the added complexity of parameter adaptation being justified by the significant reduction in computational workload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4597328B1Computing device that executes address translation for storage device, computing system and operating method thereof
Publication Date: 2025.12.31 SK HYNIX INC
  • EP4597328B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4597328B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4597328B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A computing device may search for a plurality of first physical addresses that are start physical addresses corresponding to a plurality of first virtual addresses from a page table based on a first start virtual address that is a start address of a virtual address space including the plurality of first virtual addresses corresponding to a plurality of first pages for a first storage device, and transmit a first access request for at least one first physical address of the plurality of first physical addresses to the first storage device using a first storage controller.