Storage Controller Cache Rearrangement for Data Access Speed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage technologies face inefficiencies in maintaining continuous storage of highly related data on physical disks, leading to decreased access speeds due to discrete data arrangements, which are not effectively addressed by current defragmentation methods or techniques for managing compressed data groups.
Innovation Solution
A storage controller that identifies adjacent data groups on logical disks not stored contiguously on physical disks, and upon cache deletion, rearranges these data groups to be continuously stored on the physical disk, improving data access performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data are stored continuously on physical disk, then access speed is improved, but data arrangement becomes complex to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a storage controller as an intermediary device between the host and physical storage. This controller automatically manages data continuity by detecting when data should be rearranged and executing the rearrangement operation, thereby maintaining continuous data arrangement without requiring complex manual management or host intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage controller performs self-managed data continuity maintenance by monitoring its own storage state and automatically executing rearrangement operations when data become discontinuous. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external defragmentation operations or complex management systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If defragmentation is performed to reduce data discreteness, then data continuity is improved, but execution time increases and access speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The storage controller performs preliminary data continuity maintenance during normal write operations and cache management activities. By proactively ensuring data continuity at appropriate moments rather than waiting for degradation, the system maintains performance without requiring time-consuming defragmentation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains data continuity as an ongoing process integrated into normal storage operations rather than a periodic batch task. The storage controller continuously monitors and adjusts data arrangement during cache management and write operations, eliminating the need for separate defragmentation cycles that would halt access.
3Adaptability or versatility
If compressed data are stored in discrete manner on physical disk, then storage flexibility is improved, but reading time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different storage strategies to different data characteristics. Highly related data (such as compressed data from the same source) are stored continuously to minimize read time, while less related data can be stored more flexibly. This local optimization maintains storage flexibility for diverse data types while ensuring fast access for related data.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage controller, includes: at least one memory storing a set of instructions; and at least one processor configured to execute the set of instructions to: perform cache processing of storing, in a cache storage, data stored in a physical disk; specify a set of data that are adjacent to each other in a logical disk and are not adjacent to each other in the physical disk, among data stored in the cache storage, and set a group including the specified set of data; determine, at an opportunity in which all cached data among data belonging to the group become target data of deletion from the cache storage, a range in the physical disk in which the target data are stored in such a way that all data belonging to the group are continuously arranged in the physical disk; and write the target data into the determined range.