Virtual Storage Translator for Multi-Bus Heterogeneous Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage devices in computing systems face limitations in capacity and reliability, as they are often constrained by physical space, processing capabilities, and the need to choose between high capacity spinning media or reliable solid state storage, leading to compromises in data protection and storage capacity.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual storage translator device that interfaces a single bus with multiple buses of different types, allowing seamless translation of commands and data storage across various storage media, enabling the use of multiple storage devices of different types to increase capacity and reliability without altering existing hardware or software, and ensuring critical data is stored on appropriate media.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple storage devices of different types are used to increase capacity and reliability, then storage capacity and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A virtual storage translator device is introduced as an intermediary component between the computing device and multiple physical storage devices. This translator device manages the complexity of interfacing with different storage bus types (SATA, SAS, Fibre Channel, etc.) and presents a unified interface to the computing device, allowing multiple storage devices to be used without increasing perceived system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual storage translator device provides universal functionality by supporting multiple storage bus types and device formats through a single interface. It can translate commands between different bus protocols, enabling the system to access diverse storage devices (hard drives, solid state drives, optical drives, tape drives) without requiring separate specialized interfaces for each device type.
2Device complexity
If a single storage device is used to simplify the system, then device complexity is reduced, but storage capacity and reliability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple physical storage devices are merged into a single virtual storage device through the virtual storage translator. The translator consolidates access to multiple underlying storage devices into one unified interface, allowing the system to access combined capacity of all devices while maintaining a simple single-device appearance to the computing device.
3Speed
If storage devices are accessed directly without translation, then processing speed is improved, but adaptability to different storage media is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual storage translator performs preliminary translation of commands and data formats before data is accessed by the computing device. By pre-translating between different bus protocols and data formats, the system maintains high throughput while achieving broad adaptability to various storage media types without requiring slow direct translation during data access operations.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods for interfacing a single bus with multiple buses invisibly to devices using the single bus are presented. More specifically, in one embodiment an I/O bus may be interfaced with multiple other I/O buses of the same or different formats. Commands may be received on one I/O bus and invisibly to a computing device or processor which issues the commands, translated into a set of commands configured to effectuate a received command in conjunction with storage media coupled to the other I/O buses. These storage media may comprise different types of storage media such that data designated as critical may be stored on an appropriate storage media.