UFS Device Bidirectional Lane Switching for Data Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems, particularly in mobile devices, face performance degradation due to data transmission congestion caused by significant differences in upstream and downstream data transmission amounts between hosts and storage devices.
Innovation Solution
A universal flash storage (UFS) system with an asymmetric lane interface, where a UFS device includes multiple data lanes that can switch directions based on operation modes, allowing for efficient data transmission by adapting to varying data loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bidirectional lanes are used for both upstream and downstream data transmission, then lane utilization is improved, but data transmission congestion occurs when there are great differences in amounts of upstream and downstream transmission data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic lane direction switching where bidirectional lanes can change their transmission direction based on real-time data transmission needs. The controller determines whether each bidirectional lane should transmit data in the upstream direction (host to device) or downstream direction (device to host) based on the relative amounts of data to be transmitted, thereby adaptively optimizing lane utilization and preventing transmission congestion.
2Productivity
If separate unidirectional lanes are used for upstream and downstream data transmission, then data transmission congestion is avoided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes lanes multi-functional by enabling bidirectional lanes to serve both upstream and downstream data transmission needs. Instead of requiring separate dedicated lanes for each direction, the same physical lanes can be dynamically assigned to different directions based on transmission requirements, thereby reducing lane configuration complexity while maintaining efficient data transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A universal flash storage (UFS) device includes a UFS data lane comprising a first UFS lane for a first direction in which data is output to a UFS host, a second UFS lane for a second direction in which data is received from the UFS host, and bidirectional UFS lanes capable of switching the first direction and the second direction according to an operation mode. A UFS device controller switches a data transmission direction of the bidirectional UFS lanes, based on a control signal indicating the operation mode.