Storage Buffer Switching for Host Memory Access Delays

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices experience performance degradation due to rapid increases in access time to host memory buffers, which can be mitigated by dynamically switching between internal and external buffers based on access time intervals.

Innovation Solution

A storage device controller determines access time intervals for data movement between internal and external buffers and switches buffers when these intervals exceed a threshold, ensuring optimal performance by using an internal buffer when external access times become excessive.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the storage device uses an external host memory buffer to increase throughput, then the productivity of data operations is improved, but the access time to the buffer rapidly increases causing performance degradation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethroughput of data operationsVSAvoidaccess time to host memory buffer

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device dynamically switches between using the external host memory buffer and internal memory based on real-time access time conditions. When access time to the external buffer exceeds a threshold, the system transitions to using internal memory, making the buffer configuration movable and adaptive rather than fixed, thereby resolving the contradiction between throughput improvement and access time increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the access time to the external buffer and uses this feedback to determine whether to switch buffer configurations. When the monitored access time exceeds a predetermined threshold, the system responds by switching to internal memory, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that prevents performance degradation while maintaining optimal throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the storage device switches to internal memory when external buffer access time exceeds threshold, then the performance degradation is prevented, but the device complexity increases due to buffer switching logic

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance stabilityVSAvoidbuffer switching control logic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device autonomously monitors its own buffer access times and automatically switches between buffer configurations without requiring external intervention or complex control systems. The device serves itself by detecting performance degradation conditions and responding with appropriate configuration changes, thereby maintaining reliability while minimizing added complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20260072590A1Storage device controlling access to host memory buffer, system, and method for operating storage device

Publication Date: 2026.03.12 SK HYNIX INC

AI summary

A storage device includes a memory configured to store target data; and a controller configured to execute a target operation of accessing the target data. The controller sets a buffer associated with the target operation as a first buffer, determines a first access time interval on the basis of moving data read from the memory to the first buffer in the target operation, determines a second access time interval on the basis of moving data stored in the first buffer to the memory in the target operation, and changes the buffer associated with the target operation to a second buffer when at least one of the first access time interval and the second access time interval is equal to or longer than a preset threshold access time interval. The first buffer is located outside the storage device, and the second buffer is located inside the storage device.