Transient Compression Layer for Storage Throughput
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in the data storage industry is to reduce factory throughput time and production costs while maintaining competitiveness, as traditional methods of increasing storage capacity are costly and time-consuming, especially during the certification process of hard disc drives (HDDs) which limits their immediate usability and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a transient compression layer within the storage device that uses a partially certified portion of the storage media to temporarily store compressed data, allowing the device to present full functionality and capacity to users before the main store is fully certified, thereby optimizing factory throughput and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the main store is used to store data before full certification, then storage capacity is available, but data integrity and reliability are compromised due to incomplete certification
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device divides its storage capacity into two distinct segments: a certified portion of the main store that is reliable and ready for use, and an uncertified portion that is still being processed. This segmentation allows the device to immediately utilize the certified space while the rest continues certification, resolving the contradiction by making partial capacity available without compromising data integrity in the uncertified regions.
Solution Approach 2:
A transient compression layer is introduced as an intermediary storage mechanism between the host and the main store. This layer temporarily holds data in compressed form during the certification process, acting as a buffer that enables factory throughput improvement while maintaining reliability by preventing direct writes to uncertified main store regions. The intermediary layer is cleared once certification completes.
2Quantity of substance
If storage capacity is increased by increasing areal density, then storage capacity improves, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the effective storage capacity parameter during the certification process. By presenting the full rated capacity to the host while internally managing the distinction between certified and uncertified portions, the system allows manufacturers to ship drives at higher areal densities without incurring the full cost of complete certification, thereby reducing production costs while maintaining advertised storage capacity.
3Ease of operation
If the storage device presents full capacity before certification is complete, then usability improves, but data safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The transient compression layer serves as a protective intermediary that enables the storage device to present full capacity to the host system before certification is complete. Data written during this period is stored in the controlled intermediary layer rather than directly in the uncertified main store, maintaining usability while protecting data safety. Once certification completes, the intermediary layer is cleared and data is safely migrated to the now-certified main store.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device or storage system includes a transient compression layer that is established based on a level of finishedness of the capacity of the storage device or storage system. Data may be compressed and written to the transient compression layer until the capacity is sufficiently finished, after which the compressed data may be destaged and written to the capacity. The transient compression layer may be established on a hard disc media of the storage system or in a SSD of the storage system.