Storage Device User Data Expansion Through Reserved Block Reallocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage devices have a fixed user data area size, limiting the ability to accommodate additional user data and inefficiently managing garbage collection when the data area is expanded.
Innovation Solution
A storage device that reallocates memory blocks from a reserved area to a user data area in response to a host request, allowing dynamic expansion of the user data area and optimizing garbage collection parameters based on the size changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the user data area size is increased to accommodate additional user data, then the storage capacity for user data is improved, but the efficiency of garbage collection deteriorates due to insufficient reserved area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic allocation of memory blocks between user data area and reserved area. The controller monitors the state of reserved area and dynamically reallocates memory blocks from reserved area to user data area when garbage collection efficiency degrades, and vice versa when user data storage capacity becomes insufficient. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to adaptively balance between storage capacity and garbage collection efficiency based on actual operational conditions.
2Quantity of substance
If memory blocks are reallocated from reserved area to user data area, then the user data storage space is expanded, but the reserved area size is reduced affecting future garbage collection operations
Solution Approach 1:
The controller continuously monitors the state of both user data area and reserved area, and based on this feedback, makes intelligent decisions about when to reallocate memory blocks. When the reserved area becomes too small to ensure reliable garbage collection, the controller stops further reallocation or reallocates blocks back to the reserved area. This feedback mechanism ensures that user data storage space is expanded only when it does not compromise the reliability of future garbage collection operations.
3Productivity
If the user data area is fixed in size, then garbage collection can be efficiently managed with adequate reserved area, but the storage device cannot accommodate additional user data requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the fixed user data area into a dynamic structure that can expand when needed. The controller monitors host requests for additional storage space and, when such requests are received, reallocates memory blocks from the reserved area to the user data area. This dynamic adjustment allows the storage device to adapt to changing storage requirements while maintaining adequate reserved area for garbage collection operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of user data area size from a fixed value to a variable that can be adjusted based on operational conditions. By modifying the allocation parameters between user data area and reserved area dynamically, the system achieves both efficient garbage collection and adaptability to additional user data requests.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device may allocate at least one of a plurality of memory blocks to a user data area that stores user data, allocate at least one of the remaining memory blocks, among the plurality of memory blocks, that are not allocated to the user data area to a reserved area, receive a command requesting to increase the size of the user data area by a target size from a host, and reallocate, in response to the command, one or more of the memory blocks allocated to the reserved area to the user data area.