Storage Control Apparatus Logical Address Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage systems face inefficiencies in data duplication exclusion processes, leading to increased processing loads during data copy operations, as they redundantly write and delete data across physical storage areas.
Innovation Solution
A storage control apparatus and method that utilizes meta-information to associate logical addresses with physical addresses, allowing for efficient data copying and duplication exclusion by updating meta-information to manage data storage and reduce redundant writes and deletions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is copied by writing to physical storage areas, then data duplication exclusion can be achieved, but processing load increases due to redundant write and delete operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses meta-information copies (logical address to physical address mappings) instead of actual data copies. When copying data between logical areas, the system copies the meta-information entries that map logical addresses to physical addresses, rather than physically copying the data itself. This eliminates redundant write and delete operations on actual data while maintaining duplication exclusion functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from physical data manipulation to logical parameter manipulation. Instead of writing and deleting actual data bytes, the system modifies meta-information parameters (address mappings) to achieve the same effect. This parameter-based approach reduces I/O operations and processing load while maintaining data integrity and duplication exclusion.
2Reliability
If data is written to different physical addresses for different logical addresses, then data integrity is maintained, but storage space efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple logical address mappings to the same physical address when the data content is identical. Instead of allocating separate physical addresses for each logical address, the system consolidates them to share the same physical storage location. This is achieved by updating meta-information to point multiple logical addresses to a single physical address, thereby improving storage space efficiency while maintaining data integrity through proper mapping management.
3Productivity
If meta-information is updated to associate logical and physical addresses, then data copy efficiency improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces meta-information as an intermediary layer between logical areas and physical storage. This meta-information structure acts as a mediator that simplifies data copy operations by providing a centralized mapping mechanism. Instead of directly managing complex physical address allocations, the system uses the meta-information intermediary to handle address associations, which actually reduces overall system complexity despite adding a management layer.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage control apparatus includes a memory configured to store meta-information for associating addresses of a logical area and a physical area with each other, and a processor coupled to the memory and configured to read out first meta-information corresponding to a first logical area from the memory, specify a first address of the physical area corresponding to a copy source address of the data based on the first meta-information, read out second meta-information corresponding to a second logical area that is set as a copy destination of the data in the logical area from the memory, specify a second address of the physical area corresponding to a copy destination address of the data based on the second meta-information, and execute copy of the data by associating the first address and the second address with each other as storage areas of the data.