Efficient Address Translation Cache Invalidation in Data Storage Devices

Abstract

Rather than clearing out an entire address translation cache (ATC) upon receiving an invalidation request, a data storage device can focus on any individual untranslated addresses found in the invalidation request. The data storage device can, immediately upon receipt of the invalidation request, request translation of the untranslated address from a translation agent (TA). In response, the TA will provide a translated address. The data storage device can then compare translated addresses in the ATC to the translated address received from the TA. The data storage device can then complete any relevant commands associated with the untranslated address, flush the translated address and the untranslated address, and issue an invalidation completion. The total invalidation flow can be completed in less than 1 millisecond without clearing the entire ATC.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.