Storage Control Apparatus Dynamic Granularity Switching

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage systems face challenges in effectively managing virtual-physical mapping information, leading to inefficient utilization of storage capacity and unnecessary vacant space, which limits the number of deduplication in storage systems.

Innovation Solution

A storage system that dynamically manages virtual areas by switching between coarse-grained and fine-grained management based on the number of duplication areas and the size of mapping information, optimizing the storage of virtual-physical mapping information by allocating physical areas efficiently and applying deduplication only where necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If fine-grained management is applied to all virtual areas, then deduplication effectiveness is improved, but mapping information volume increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvededuplication effectivenessVSAvoidmapping information volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different management granularities to different virtual areas based on their deduplication characteristics. Virtual areas with high duplication rates use fine-grained management to maximize deduplication effectiveness, while virtual areas with low duplication rates use coarse-grained management to minimize mapping information volume. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each area according to its specific needs rather than applying a uniform approach system-wide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically switches between coarse-grained and fine-grained management for virtual areas based on real-time deduplication ratios and mapping information volume thresholds. When the deduplication ratio exceeds a first threshold and mapping volume is below a second threshold, the system transitions to fine-grained management; otherwise, it uses coarse-grained management. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing data patterns and resolve the contradiction between deduplication effectiveness and mapping information volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If coarse-grained management is applied to all virtual areas, then mapping information volume is reduced, but deduplication effectiveness decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemapping information volumeVSAvoiddeduplication effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different management granularities to different virtual areas based on their deduplication characteristics. Virtual areas with high duplication rates use fine-grained management to maximize deduplication effectiveness, while virtual areas with low duplication rates use coarse-grained management to minimize mapping information volume. This localized adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each area according to its specific needs rather than applying a uniform approach system-wide.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically switches between coarse-grained and fine-grained management for virtual areas based on real-time deduplication ratios and mapping information volume thresholds. When the deduplication ratio exceeds a first threshold and mapping volume is below a second threshold, the system transitions to fine-grained management; otherwise, it uses coarse-grained management. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt to changing data patterns and resolve the contradiction between deduplication effectiveness and mapping information volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If dynamic granularity switching is implemented, then storage capacity utilization is optimized, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacity utilizationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic switching between coarse-grained and fine-grained management based on deduplication ratios and mapping information volume thresholds. The storage control apparatus monitors these parameters and automatically transitions management granularities when thresholds are exceeded, optimizing storage capacity utilization without requiring complex manual intervention or sophisticated algorithms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the management parameter (granularity level) based on measurable system state parameters (deduplication ratio and mapping information volume). By using clear threshold-based parameter changes rather than continuous optimization algorithms, the system achieves improved storage utilization while keeping the control logic relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9720608B2Storage system

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 HITACHI VANTARA LTD

AI summary

A storage control apparatus performs, for each virtual area to which a physical area is allocated, any one of coarse-grained management for managing a correspondence relationship between a virtual area and a physical area in a first size unit, and fine-grained management for managing a correspondence relationship between a virtual area and a physical area in a second size unit smaller than the first size unit. The storage control apparatus manages mapping information that expresses a correspondence relationship between a virtual area and a physical area. The storage control apparatus performs at least one of change of any of fine-grained virtual areas to a coarse-grained virtual area and change of any of coarse-grained virtual areas to a fine-grained virtual area, based on the number of duplication areas of each virtual area and a size of the mapping information.