US 7,644,239 B2 · Non-volatile memory cache performance improvement

Non-volatile memory cache performance improvement

AssigneeMicrosoft Corporation

InventorsCenk Ergan, Clark D. Nicholson, Dan Teodosiu, Dean L. DeWhitt, Emily Nicole Hill, Hanumantha R. Kodavalla, Michael J. Zwilling, John M. Parchem, Michael R. Fortin, Nathan Steven Obr, Rajeev Y. Nagar, Surenda Verma, Therron Powell, William J. Westerinen, Mark Joseph Zbikowski, Patrick L. Stemen

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Abstract

In order to provide a more efficient persistent storage device, one or more long-term storage media are included along with a non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, one portion of the non-volatile memory is used as a write buffer and a read cache for writes and reads to the long-term storage media. Interfaces are provided for controlling the use of the non-volatile memory as a write buffer and a read cache. Additionally, a portion of the non-volatile memory is used to provide a direct mapping for specified sectors of the long-term storage media. Descriptive data regarding the persistent storage device is stored in another portion of the non-volatile memory.

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Drawings

Claims68

Dependent claims

A method of operating a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

utilizing a first portion of said non-volatile memory as a mapped portion, said mapped portion used exclusively by a single operating system and the operating system assumes direct control of said first portion of the non-volatile memory, wherein a specific set of logical sector addresses of the long-term storage medium are mapped onto the non-volatile memory mapped portion, wherein reads and writes to the specific set of logical sector addresses access the non-volatile memory;
utilizing a second portion of said non-volatile memory as a combination of read cache and write buffer for intermediate storage of data under direct control of a storage unit controller, wherein portions of said non-volatile memory not under direct control of the operating system are under direct control of said storage unit controller, wherein write operations to said long-term storage medium overwrite read cache areas in the second portion until the write buffer is flushed to the long-term storage medium, and wherein if data for a read operation is not present in the read cache area, then the data for the read operation is acquired directly from the long-term storage medium wherein the non-volatile memory is bypassed;
and
providing an interface for requesting that data written to said write buffer be transferred to said long-term storage medium.

1 more element

A method of operating a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

utilizing a first portion of said non-volatile memory as a mapped portion, said mapped portion used exclusively by a single operating system and the operating system assumes direct control of the data stored in the first portion of non-volatile memory, wherein a specific set of logical sector addresses of the long-term storage medium are mapped onto the non-volatile memory mapped portion, wherein reads and writes to the specific set of logical sector addresses access the non-volatile memory;
setting up a second portion of the at least one non-volatile memory storage element under direct control of a storage unit controller such that a direct correspondence of at least one non-volatile memory storage element of said second portion of non-volatile memory is established with at least one long-term storage element of said long-term storage medium wherein portions of said non-volatile memory not under direct control of the operating system are under direct control of said storage unit controller;
reading data from said long-term storage element to said non-volatile storage element;
performing any write operations directed at said long-term storage element in said non-volatile storage element, wherein the write operations overwrite read cache areas in the second portion until the write buffer is flushed to the long-term storage medium;
and
responding to any read operations directed at said long-term storage element by determining that data for the read operation is not present in the read cache and subsequently reading data directly from both first and second portions of said non-volatile storage element.

3 more elements

A method of operating a computer system having persistent storage device comprising a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

utilizing a first portion of said non-volatile memory as a mapped portion, said mapped portion used exclusively by a single operating system and the operating system assumes direct control of said first portion of the non-volatile memory, wherein a specific set of logical sector addresses of the long-term storage medium are mapped onto the non-volatile memory mapped portion, wherein reads and writes to the specific set of logical sector addresses access the non-volatile memory;
utilizing a second portion of said non-volatile memory as a combination of read cache and write buffer for intermediate storage of data under direct control of a storage unit controller, wherein write operations to said long-term storage medium overwrite read cache areas in the second portion until the write buffer is flushed to the long-term storage medium, and wherein if data for a read operation is not present in the read cache area, then the data for the read operation is acquired directly from the long-term storage medium wherein the non-volatile memory is bypassed;
utilizing a third portion of said non-volatile memory as storage for descriptive information concerning said persistent storage device, wherein portions of said non-volatile memory not under direct control of the operating system are under direct control of said storage unit controller;
and
providing a method for reading data from said third portion.

2 more elements

A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

a first portion of said non-volatile memory, said first portion used exclusively by a single operating system and the operating system assumes direct control of the data stored in the non-volatile memory, wherein a specific set of logical sector addresses of the long-term storage medium are mapped onto the first portion of non-volatile memory, wherein reads and writes to the specific set of logical sector addresses access the first portion of non-volatile memory;
a second portion of said non-volatile memory used as a combination of read cache and write buffer for intermediate storage of data under direct control of a storage unit controller, wherein portions of said non-volatile memory not under direct control of the operating system are under direct control of said storage unit controller, wherein write operations to said long-term storage medium overwrite read cache areas in the second portion until the write buffer is flushed to the long-term storage medium, and wherein if data for a read operation is not present in the read cache area, then the data for the read operation is acquired directly from the long-term storage medium wherein the non-volatile memory is bypassed;
logic for utilizing a second portion of said non-volatile memory as a read buffer for storage of data from said long-term storage medium;
and
logic for providing an interface for requesting that certain data be read from said long-term storage media into said portion of non-volatile memory.

2 more elements

A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

a first portion of said non-volatile memory, said first portion used exclusively by a single operating system and the operating system assumes direct control of the data stored in the non-volatile memory, wherein a specific set of logical sector addresses of the long-term storage medium are mapped onto the first portion of non-volatile memory, wherein reads and writes to the specific set of logical sector addresses access the first portion of non-volatile memory;
a second portion of said non-volatile memory used as a combination of read cache and write buffer for intermediate storage of data under direct control of a storage unit controller, wherein write operations to said long-term storage medium overwrite read cache areas in the second portion until the write buffer is flushed to the long-term storage medium and wherein portions of said non-volatile memory not under direct control of the operating system are under direct control of said storage unit controller;
logic for setting up a direct correspondence of at least one non-volatile memory storage element of said non-volatile memory with at least one long-term storage element of said long-term storage medium;
logic for reading data from said long-term storage element to said non-volatile storage element;
logic for performing any write operations directed at said long-term storage element in said non-volatile storage element;
and
logic for responding to any read operations directed at said long-term storage element by determining that data for the read operation is not present in the read cache and subsequently reading data directly from said non-volatile storage element.

4 more elements

A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:

a first portion of said non-volatile memory, said first portion used exclusively by a single operating system and the operating system assumes direct control of said first portion of the non-volatile memory, wherein a specific set of logical sector addresses of the long-term storage medium are mapped onto the first portion of non-volatile memory, wherein reads and writes to the specific set of logical sector addresses access the first portion of non-volatile memory;
utilizing a second portion of said non-volatile memory as a combination of read cache and write buffer for intermediate storage of data under direct control of a storage unit controller, wherein write operations to said long-term storage medium overwrite read cache areas in the second portion until the write buffer is flushed to the long-term storage medium, and wherein if data for a read operation is not present in the read cache area, then the data for the read operation is acquired directly from the long-term storage medium wherein the non-volatile memory is bypassed;
utilizing a third portion of said non-volatile memory as storage for descriptive information concerning said persistent storage device, wherein portions of said non-volatile memory not under direct control of the operating system are under direct control of said storage unit controller;
and
providing a computer system for reading data from said third portion.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description9,869 words

Summary712 words

#This application is related to the following previously-filed applications:

#“Method and Apparatus to Reduce Power Consumption and Improve Read/Write Performance of Hard Disk Drives Using Non-Volatile Memory,” Ser. No. 10,372,734, filed Feb. 21, 2003.

#“Apparatus and Method to Decrease Boot Time and Hibernate Awaken Time of a Computer System,” Ser. No. 10/186,164, filed Jun. 27, 2002.

Brief description of the drawings10 figures

#The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings example constructions of the invention; however, the invention is not limited to the specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed. In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram generally illustrating an exemplary computer system on which the present invention resides;

#FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the exemplary computer system of FIG. 1 generally illustrating locations where the present invention may be implemented;

Detailed description8,878 words

#In the description that follows, the term “NV memory” will be used to refer to solid state non-volatile memory. NV memory means any type of memory that retains its data when power is removed and that can be erased and reprogrammed with new data. The NV memory may include battery-backed up memory. The NV memory may be located in a computer as a separate component of the computer such as a personal computer slot card or as a component in system memory. Alternatively, it could be a component of a persistent storage device such as a hard drive, in a docking station of a notebook device and the like. On mobile systems, the track buffer memory the disk drives have can be used (i.e., the invention can also be implemented using the track buffer memory).

#Future disks for mobile systems may draw from battery power to keep its memory alive without actually drawing power to keep the disk spinning. The NV memory may store file data, file metadata, as well as known disk sectors such as the boot sector and partition tables. During power down or entry into a hibernate mode, the computer system determines the static and dynamic configuration data to be stored in NV memory based on a history of prior uses. Data is also stored in the NV memory during system operation to reduce the number of times the disk drive is spun up. For mobile PCs and the like, reducing the number of times the disk drive is spun up improves user experience because power is reduced, thereby allowing smaller and lighter mobile PCs and the like that last longer on a given battery capacity. It also reduces the need to run noisy, high speed fans that are loud and annoying to the user.

#Turning to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, the invention is illustrated as being implemented in a suitable computing environment. Although not required, the invention will be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a personal computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including hand-held devices, multi-processor systems, microprocessor based or programmable consumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. The invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote memory storage devices.

Facts

Application

10/837,986Filed 3 May 2004

Published

US 2005/0246487 A13 Nov 2005

Granted

5 Jan 2010

Term ended

13 Aug 2025

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment, including 467 days of adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification14 codes

G06F 12/0866
Addressing of a memory level in which the access to the desired data or data block requires associative addressing means, e.g. caches: for…
G06F 3/061
Specifically adapted to achieve a particular effect: improving I/O performance
G06F 3/0656
Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices: data buffering…
G06F 3/0679
Single storage device: non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]

Timeline

3 May 2004Application filedUS 10/837,986
21 Apr 2005Assigned to Microsoft Corporationassignment of assignor's interest
3 Nov 2005PublishedUS 2005/0246487 A1
5 Jan 2010GrantedUS 7,644,239 B2
9 Dec 2014Assigned to Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
13 Aug 2025Term endedEstimated, includes 467 days of adjustment