Storage Data Relocation Without Controller Bandwidth Overhead

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional storage systems experience increased communication bandwidth consumption due to frequent data relocation to mitigate errors, particularly in high-density memory cells, which hinders performance by delaying the transmission of user data.

Innovation Solution

Storage devices locally relocate data to a new location without transmitting it to the storage controller, reducing bandwidth usage and improving system performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If data is frequently relocated to mitigate errors in high-density memory cells, then data reliability is improved, but communication bandwidth consumption increases and system performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data relocation function from the storage controller and implements it locally within the storage device itself. This allows error mitigation through data relocation without involving the storage controller, thereby eliminating the bandwidth consumption associated with controller-device communication during relocation operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device performs self-service by autonomously detecting errors in high-density memory cells and relocating affected data to alternative locations within the same device. This self-managed relocation process eliminates the need for controller intervention, preserving communication bandwidth for user data transmission while maintaining data reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If data is frequently relocated to mitigate errors, then data reliability is improved, but system performance deteriorates due to delayed user data transmission

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data relocation function from the storage controller and implements it locally within the storage device itself. This allows error mitigation through data relocation without involving the storage controller, thereby eliminating the bandwidth consumption associated with controller-device communication during relocation operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device performs self-service by autonomously detecting errors in high-density memory cells and relocating affected data to alternative locations within the same device. This self-managed relocation process eliminates the need for controller intervention, preserving communication bandwidth for user data transmission while maintaining data reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If data is transmitted to storage controller for relocation, then error mitigation is achieved, but communication bandwidth is consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerror mitigationVSAvoidcommunication bandwidth

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the data relocation function from the storage controller and implements it locally within the storage device itself. This allows error mitigation through data relocation without involving the storage controller, thereby eliminating the bandwidth consumption associated with controller-device communication during relocation operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device performs self-service by autonomously detecting errors in high-density memory cells and relocating affected data to alternative locations within the same device. This self-managed relocation process eliminates the need for controller intervention, preserving communication bandwidth for user data transmission while maintaining data reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS12542186B2Conserving bandwidth using efficient relocation of data between storage devices

Publication Date: 2026.02.03 PURE STORAGE INC

AI summary

A command including information associated with a relocation of data from a first storage device to a second storage device of multiple storage devices of a storage system is transmitted. The command causes the first storage device to relocate the data to the second storage device while bypassing a storage controller.