Storage Command Granularity Control for Data Coherency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices face issues with data coherency due to varying access granularities, leading to potential corruption and inconsistent data views when different access paths with different caching systems are used.

Innovation Solution

Implementing systems and methods that control memory accesses based on access granularity, ensuring that only commands satisfying the specified access granularity criteria are sent to the storage device, thereby maintaining data coherency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If storage devices support multiple access granularities with different caching systems, then access flexibility and performance are improved, but data coherency and consistency are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess flexibilityVSAvoiddata coherency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of access granularity from a fixed property to a dynamically controllable attribute. By introducing access granularity criteria that can be stored and enforced by the computing device, the system allows flexible access at different granularities (byte, block, page levels) while maintaining data coherency through active monitoring and rejection of non-compliant access commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If access granularity criteria are enforced to maintain data coherency, then data consistency is improved, but command processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata consistencyVSAvoidcommand processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by storing access granularity criteria in advance before actual memory access operations occur. The computing device pre-configures the acceptable access granularity parameters for different memory regions, so that during runtime, the system only needs to compare incoming commands against these pre-stored criteria rather than performing complex coherency checks for each access operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If commands are rejected that do not meet access granularity criteria, then data corruption is prevented, but access speed and productivity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidaccess speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces access granularity criteria as an intermediary layer between the application and the storage device. This intermediary mechanism acts as a filter that automatically validates commands against pre-defined rules, allowing compliant commands to pass through rapidly while blocking only those that would cause data corruption. This approach maintains high access speed for valid operations while preventing data integrity issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12468640B2Systems and methods for sending a command to a storage device

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

A method includes storing, at a computing device, access granularity criteria associated with a memory area. The method further includes receiving a memory operation request requesting access to a first portion of the memory area at the first access granularity. The method further includes in response to the memory operation request satisfying the access granularity criteria, sending, from the computing device, a command to a storage device based on the memory operation request.