Storage Interface Segmentation for Sequential Write Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data storage systems face inefficiencies and inconsistencies due to the need for large-scale erasure before sequential writing, leading to storage latency spikes, write amplification, and interference issues, especially when multiple applications or tenants share a single storage medium.
Innovation Solution
An improved interface between the storage system driver layer and storage devices that manages disparate read, write, and erase operations by directing sequential writes to smaller segments of erased areas, performing low-level hardware computations, and managing operations like logical to physical storage media mapping, data encryption, and wear-leveling at the device level.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If large zone or block/page erasure is performed before writing, then data can be written to the storage medium, but storage latency increases and write amplification occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage medium into multiple independent zones or regions, allowing parallel write operations to different segments simultaneously. This eliminates the need for complete large-zone erasure before writing, as only specific segments need to be erased and written, significantly reducing storage latency while maintaining data integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary erasure of only the specific zones or segments that will receive data writes, rather than erasing entire large blocks or pages. This selective preliminary action reduces the total erasure time and write amplification, directly improving data storage speed while minimizing unnecessary operations.
2Reliability
If large zone or block/page erasure is performed before writing, then data can be written to the storage medium, but write amplification increases leading to reduced media endurance
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the storage medium into smaller independent segments, the patent enables precise targeting of only those segments requiring data writes. This segmentation prevents unnecessary erasure and rewrite operations on other segments, thereby reducing write amplification and extending media endurance without compromising data reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the granularity parameter of write operations from large block/page level to smaller zone/segment level. This parameter change allows the system to perform fewer total write operations by targeting only the minimal necessary areas, reducing write amplification and improving media endurance while maintaining data integrity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications and tenants are assigned to a single storage medium, then resource utilization improves, but interference issues increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the storage medium into isolated zones that can be allocated to different applications and tenants. This segmentation creates logical isolation between workloads, allowing multiple tenants to share the physical medium without interference, as each tenant's data operations are confined to their assigned zones. This maintains high resource utilization while eliminating cross-tenant interference issues.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved interface for managing disparate read, write, and erase sizes and operations in data storage devices is provided. By improving an interface between a storage system driver layer and associated storage devices, performance of data storage is improved, including improving data storage speed and storage media endurance. Storage media management operations are made more efficient and consistent by providing improved types and sequences of commands sent from the driver layer to the device control layer such that data write operations are performed in a sequential manner as write commands are directed to portions of data as opposed to buffering individual portions of data followed by a large wholescale write/erase process for the buffered data.