Data Storage Controller Copy Token for Power-Fail-Safe Background Operations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Data copy operations on storage devices can create bottlenecks in computer systems and risk data loss due to power failures, as the host must wait for the operation to complete and non-volatile data may be corrupted if power is lost during the process.
Innovation Solution
A data storage device with a data storage controller that generates a copy token identifying source and destination locations, stores it in a power-fail-safe data structure, and marks these locations in a logical-to-physical address table, allowing the host to be notified of completion before the operation is finished, ensuring data integrity even in case of power failures by completing the copy upon successful power-up.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the host waits for the data copy operation to complete before performing subsequent tasks, then data integrity is ensured, but system productivity deteriorates due to bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the host send the copy command and receive completion notification immediately, while the actual data copying is performed in the background by the storage device. This allows the host to proceed with subsequent tasks without waiting for the copy operation to finish, thereby improving system productivity while maintaining data integrity through the use of copy tokens and power-fail-safe data structures
2Productivity
If the data copy operation is performed in the background without host waiting, then system productivity improves, but reliability worsens due to potential data loss from power failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by implementing power-fail-safe data structures that automatically save copy token information to non-volatile memory before power failures can occur. This cushioning mechanism ensures that even if power is lost during background copy operations, the copy state is preserved and can be resumed, preventing data loss while allowing continuous background operation for improved productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the storage device continuously monitors copy operation status and power conditions. When power failures are detected, the system provides feedback by automatically saving the copy state to non-volatile memory. This feedback loop ensures data safety during background operations by continuously updating the power-fail-safe data structures with current copy progress
3Device complexity
If copy token information is stored only in volatile memory, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability worsens due to data loss on power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by creating a hierarchical memory structure where volatile memory contains the active copy token for current operations, while non-volatile memory contains the power-fail-safe data structure that mirrors critical copy state information. This nested arrangement allows the system to maintain low complexity in the active working memory while ensuring reliability through the nested backup in non-volatile memory, enabling automatic recovery after power failures
Data Source
AI summary
Technologies for performing a data copy operation on a data storage device include storing a copy token in a power-fail-safe data structure that identifies the source address and destination address of the data copy operation, updating an address table to indicate that the source and destination addresses are involved in the data copy operation, and notifying a host requesting that data copy operation that the data copy operation has been completed prior to performing the data copy operation. The host may subsequently perform other tasks while the data storage device completes the data copy operation. During the data copy operation, data access requests to the source or destination addresses are blocked based on the address table. Additionally, should a power failure event occur, the power-fail-safe data structure is saved to non-volatile data storage so that the copy operation may be completed upon the next power-on event of the data storage device.