Storage Device Content Filter for Host Processor Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing demand for content filtering in storage devices to manage large data transfers without burdening the host processor, particularly in scenarios like video on demand, where large amounts of data need to be filtered for content appropriateness, leads to processing burdens that can result in interruptions or quality degradation due to latency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-function device with a bridge that applies filtering policies to content streams stored on a storage device, buffering content for analysis and filtering before delivery to clients, thereby reducing the load on the host processor and enabling efficient content management across multiple clients with different filtering requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content filtering is implemented on storage devices to manage large data transfers, then content management capability is improved, but host processor burden increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a content filter as an intermediary component between the storage device and the host processor. This content filter operates at the storage device level, performing content analysis and filtering before data is transferred to the host. By placing the filtering function in this intermediary position, the host processor is shielded from direct processing burdens while still achieving effective content management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the content filtering function from the host processor and relocates it to the storage device. This extraction allows the filtering operations to be performed independently at the storage level, separating the content management task from the host processor's workload. The storage device now autonomously handles filtering, reducing host burden while maintaining content management capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If large amounts of data are transferred from storage device to main memory for processing, then content filtering capability is improved, but transfer time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the content filtering function from the data transfer path and implements it directly at the storage device. Instead of transferring large datasets to main memory for filtering, the storage device performs filtering locally using its integrated content filter. This eliminates the time-consuming transfer operation while maintaining comprehensive content filtering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The content filter performs preliminary content analysis and filtering actions at the storage device before data transfer occurs. By conducting filtering operations in advance at the source, the system avoids subsequent processing delays and ensures that only necessary data is transferred, reducing overall transfer time.
3Productivity
If host processor executes commands to process data, then data processing capability is improved, but processor performance degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The content filter serves as an intermediary that handles data processing tasks independently of the host processor. It performs content analysis, filtering, and data management operations at the storage device level, freeing the host processor from these computational burdens. This intermediary approach maintains data processing capability while preserving host processor performance for higher-level tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts data processing functions from the host processor and implements them at the storage device through integrated filtering hardware. This extraction relocates computational work away from the processor, maintaining necessary data processing capabilities while preventing performance degradation. The processing function is taken out and executed independently in the storage subsystem.
Data Source
AI summary
A device is disclosed. The device may include a storage device to store a content stream, and a network interface device to transmit a filtered content stream. A processing circuit may be connected to the storage device and the network interface device. The processing circuit may apply a filtering policy to the content stream to produce the filtered content stream.