Storage Performance Equalization via Minimal Value Registers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Storage systems, such as Solid State Drives (SSDs), face variability in performance measures like write duration across different memory devices, making it challenging to maintain uniform and predictable latency and throughput for users.

Innovation Solution

A performance equalization unit is introduced, which holds minimal values for performance measures and acknowledges memory access commands only after reaching these values, ensuring that all devices appear to have consistent performance by using a timer to manage write commands and acknowledge them only after a specified minimal duration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If actual performance measures of memory devices are used directly, then device-specific performance is maintained, but performance variability across different devices increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance consistencyVSAvoidperformance predictability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the performance parameter from actual device-specific measures to standardized minimal values. The performance equalization unit enforces a minimal performance measure that all devices must meet, transforming variable actual performance into uniform standardized performance for acknowledgment purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The performance equalization unit acts as an intermediary between the host system and memory devices. It receives commands from the host, executes them in memory devices, and applies performance equalization by comparing actual performance against minimal values before acknowledging completion to the host, thereby hiding device variability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If continuous command completion checks are performed, then accurate performance monitoring is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance monitoring accuracyVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-defining minimal performance values and using timers to track expected completion times. Instead of continuously checking command status, the system proactively determines when acknowledgment should occur based on pre-established performance benchmarks, eliminating the need for ongoing monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of continuous polling and status checking with a timer-based mechanism. The performance equalization unit uses timers to automatically track command execution duration and trigger acknowledgments based on elapsed time, substituting active monitoring with passive time-based measurement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9858990B2Hardware-based performance equalization for storage devices

Publication Date: 2018.01.02 APPLE INC

AI summary

An apparatus includes a register memory and circuitry. The register memory is configured to hold a minimal value specified for a performance measure of a given type of memory access commands, whose actual performance measures vary among memory devices. The circuitry is configured to receive a memory access command of the given type, to execute the received memory access command in one or more memory devices, and to acknowledge the memory access command not before reaching the minimal value stored in the register memory.