Storage Device Metadata Journal Data Separation

The patent divides the storage structure into separate metadata area and journal data area, with metadata blocks stored independently from journal data blocks. This segmentation allows independent management and verification of metadata integrity, ensuring that metadata consistency is maintained even during unexpected power-offs, while still using a single memory device without requiring additional buffer memory.

The patent extracts the critical metadata from the journal data structure and stores it separately in dedicated metadata blocks. By taking out metadata and storing it independently with its own verification mechanisms, the system ensures data consistency without requiring additional buffer memory, thus avoiding increased device complexity and power consumption while maintaining reliability.

The patent performs preliminary actions by maintaining metadata in volatile memory of the memory controller and only writing to non-volatile memory when necessary. The separate metadata area allows the system to verify metadata integrity without requiring frequent writes, as the structure itself provides consistency guarantees. This reduces the frequency of write operations while maintaining reliability.

The patent implements a universal storage management approach where the memory controller handles both metadata and journal data using the same control logic and interfaces. The separate metadata area is managed through existing memory controller functions, avoiding the need for additional dedicated hardware components. This multi-functional approach ensures data reliability while minimizing increases in device complexity.