Wide-IO SSD Buffer Management for Bandwidth and Latency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wide-IO interface designs for solid-state storage face challenges such as granularity incompatibility, low bandwidth utilization, long latency, high power consumption, and inefficient data buffering, particularly in applications requiring high computational resources like AI systems.
Innovation Solution
A buffer system with a first-in-first-out (FIFO) structure and metadata management is employed to optimize data buffering, including a buffer manager that handles access requests and metadata information, ensuring efficient data storage and retrieval with low power consumption and fast access times.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If NAND devices are used to accommodate wide-IO interface, then storage capacity is increased, but bandwidth utilization becomes low and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a buffer as an intermediary component between the wide-IO interface and NAND devices. The buffer includes a FIFO structure that temporarily stores data, allowing the wide-IO interface to operate at high speed while NAND devices process data at their native slower speed. This mediator resolves the bandwidth mismatch and improves overall system productivity without sacrificing storage capacity.
2Speed
If wide-IO interface is implemented for solid-state storage, then data transfer speed is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic action by using the FIFO buffer to decouple continuous high-speed data transfer from periodic NAND device operations. The buffer accumulates data during high-speed transfer periods and then transfers it to NAND devices in periodic batches, reducing the frequency of high-power wide-IO operations while maintaining overall data transfer speed.
3Device complexity
If buffer management is simplified, then device complexity is reduced, but data buffering efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies homogeneity by using a uniform FIFO (first-in-first-out) buffer structure with standardized metadata fields. All buffer operations follow the same homogeneous protocol for reading and writing data, which simplifies the buffer management logic while maintaining high data buffering efficiency through consistent, predictable behavior.
4Productivity
If metadata structure is added to manage buffer, then data access efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-allocating and pre-organizing metadata structures alongside the buffer memory. The metadata fields (such as valid bits, dirty bits, and address tags) are prepared in advance and automatically updated during buffer operations, which streamlines data access efficiency without requiring complex runtime management logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for interfacing a wide-IO solid-state storage are disclosed. A buffer is configured to store data corresponding to a solid-state storage. The buffer includes a first-in-first-out (FIFO). A metadata structure is configured to store metadata information including a usage scheme related to the data stored in the buffer. A buffer manager is configured to manage the buffer and the metadata structure based on the metadata information in response to an access request having an access address. The buffer manager performs an access response including one of a write access or a read access to the buffer. The access request is one of a miss or a hit.