APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MANAGING DATA IN A STORAGE DEVICE WITH AN EMPTY DATA TOKEN DIRECTIVE

• US 20080140910A1
• Filed: 12/06/2007
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unification Technologies LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Fusion-IO Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Flynn, David, Thatcher, Jonathan, Zappe, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,261,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/183 Internal mounting support structures, e.g. for printed circuit boards, internal connecting means for buses G06F13/409
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/108 Parity data distribution in semiconductor storages, e.g. in SSD
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0246 in block erasable memory, e.g. flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0804 with main memory updating G06F12/0806 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0868 Data transfer between cache memory and other subsystems, e.g. storage devices or host systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/12 Replacement control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/121 using replacement algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/123 with age lists, e.g. queue, most recently used [MRU] list or least recently used [LRU] list
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/28 using burst mode transfer, e.g. direct memory access DMA, cycle steal G06F13/32 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4022 using switching circuits, e.g. switching matrix, connection or expansion network G06F13/4009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/426 using an embedded synchronisation, e.g. Firewire bus, Fibre Channel bus, SSA bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/002 Bus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2211/103 Hybrid, i.e. RAID systems with parity comprising a mix of RAID types
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1032 Reliability improvement, data loss prevention, degraded operation etc
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1044 Space efficiency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/2022 Flash memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/222 Non-volatile memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/70 Details relating to dynamic memory management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7203 Temporary buffering, e.g. using volatile buffer or dedicated buffer blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7205 Cleaning, compaction, garbage collection, erase control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/7208 : Multiple device management, e.g. distributing data over multiple flash devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 : Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0608 : Saving storage space on storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 : in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 : in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 : Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 : Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0652 : Erasing, e.g. deleting, data cleaning, moving of data to a wastebasket
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 : Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 : Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 : Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0685 : Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0688 : Non-volatile semiconductor memory arrays
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/52 : Program synchronisation; Mutual exclusion, e.g. by means of semaphores
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 : Interprogram communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 : based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 : for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1444 : Complex or three-dimensional-arrangements; Stepped or dual mother boards
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 7/1487 : Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for managing data with an empty data segment directive at the storage device. The apparatus, system, and method for managing data include a write request receiver module and a data segment token storage module. The write request receiver module receives a storage request from a requesting device. The storage request includes a request to store a data segment in a storage device. The data segment includes a series of repeated, identical characters or a series of repeated, identical character strings. The data segment token storage module stores a data segment token in the storage device. The data segment token includes at least a data segment identifier and a data segment length. The data segment token is substantially free of data from the data segment.

Claims

1. An apparatus for managing data, the apparatus comprising:

a write request receiver module that receives a storage request from a requesting device, the storage request comprising a request to store a data segment in a storage device, the data segment comprising a series of repeated, identical characters or a series of repeated, identical character strings; and

a data segment token storage module that stores a data segment token in the storage device, the data segment token comprising a data segment identifier and a data segment length, the data segment token being substantially free of data from the data segment.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage request comprises a token directive to store the data segment token, the storage request being free from data of the data segment.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data segment token storage module generates the data segment token prior to storing the token, wherein the data segment token storage module generates the data segment token from information in the token directive, the token directive being free from the data segment token.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the token directive comprises the data segment token and the data segment token storage module recognizes that the data segment token represents the data segment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage request comprises data from the data segment and further comprising a token generation module that generates a data segment token from the data segment, the data segment token created in response to the storage request to store the data segment.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the token generation module resides at the requesting device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a secure erase module that overwrites existing data with characters such that the existing data is non-recoverable, the existing data comprising data of a data segment previously stored on the storage device identified with the same data segment identifier as the data segment identified in the storage request.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the secure erase module further comprises an erase confirmation module that transmits a message indicating that the existing data has been overwritten, the erase confirmation message transmitted in response to the secure erase module overwriting the existing data.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the secure erase module overwrites the existing data during a storage space recovery operation.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the storage request further comprises a request to overwrite the existing data and wherein the secure erase module overwrites the existing data in response to the request to overwrite the existing data.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a read request receiver module that receives a storage request to read the data segment;

a read data segment token module that reads the data segment token corresponding to the data segment requested by the storage request; and

a read request response module that transmits a response to the requesting device, the response generated using the data segment token corresponding to the requested data segment.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the read request response module further comprises a transmit data segment token module that transmits in the response a message to the requesting device, the message comprising at least the data segment identifier and the data segment length, the message being substantially free from data of the data segment.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a reconstitute data segment module that reconstitutes data of the data segment using the data segment token, and wherein the read request response module further comprises a transmit data segment module that transmits the reconstituted requested data segment.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the series of repeated, identical characters or character strings indicate that the data segment is empty.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the storage request further comprises a request to reserve storage space on the storage device, the requested reserved storage space comprising an amount of storage space substantially similar to the data segment length, and further comprising a storage space reservation module that reserves an amount of storage space on the storage device consistent with the request to reserve storage space.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the empty data segment token comprises an entry in an index, the index corresponding to information and data stored on the storage device.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data segment token comprises an object stored on the storage device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data segment token comprises metadata stored on the storage device.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data segment token further comprises at least one of a data segment location indicator, at least one instance of the repeated, identical character, and at least one instance of the repeated, identical character string.

20. An apparatus for managing data, the apparatus comprising:

a read request receiver module that receives a storage request to read a data segment from a storage device, the data segment represented on the storage device by a data segment token, the data segment comprising a series of repeated, identical characters or a series of repeated, identical character strings, the data segment token comprising a data segment identifier and a data segment length, the data segment token being substantially free of data from the data segment;

a read data segment token module that reads the data segment token corresponding to the data segment requested in the storage request; and

a read request response module that transmits a response to the requesting device, the response generated using the data segment token corresponding to the requested data segment.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the read request response module further comprises a transmit data segment token module that transmits in the response a message to the requesting device, the message comprising at least the data segment identifier and the data segment length, the message being substantially free from data of the data segment.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a reconstitute data segment module at the storage device that reconstitutes data of the data segment using the data segment token and wherein the read request response module further comprises a transmit data segment module that transmits the reconstituted, requested data segment.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the storage request comprises a request to read the data segment and further comprising a reconstitute data segment module residing at the requesting device that reconstitutes data of the data segment using the data segment token and wherein the read request response module further comprises a transmit data segment token module that transmits a message comprising at least the data segment identifier and the data segment length to the requesting device prior to the reconstitute data segment module recreating requested data segment from the message.

24. A system for managing data, the system comprising:

a storage device;

a storage controller controlling the storage device;

a write request receiver module that receives a storage request from a requesting device, the storage request comprising a request to store a data segment in the storage device controlled by the storage controller, the data segment comprising a series of repeated, identical characters or a series of repeated, identical character strings; and

a data segment token storage module that stores a data segment token in the storage device, the data segment token comprising a data segment identifier and a data segment length, the data segment token being substantially free of data from the data segment.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a read request receiver module that receives a storage request to read the data segment;

a read data segment token module that reads the data segment token corresponding to the data segment requested by the storage request; and

a read request response module that transmits a response to the requesting device, the response generated using the data segment token corresponding to the requested data segment.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a driver residing at the requesting device, the driver comprising at least a portion of one or more of the write request receiver module, the data segment token storage module, the read request receiver module, the read data segment token module, and the read request response module.

27. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer usable program code executable to perform operations for managing data, the operations of the computer program product comprising:

receiving a storage request from a requesting device, the storage request comprising a request to store a data segment in a storage device controlled by a storage controller, the data segment comprising a series of repeated, identical characters or a series of repeated, identical character strings; and

storing a data segment token in the storage device, the data segment token comprising a data segment identifier and a data segment length, the data segment token being substantially free of data from the data segment.

28. The computer program product of claim 27, further comprising:

receiving a storage request to read the data segment;

reading the data segment token corresponding to the data segment requested by the storage request; and

transmitting a response to the requesting device, the response generated using the data segment token corresponding to the requested data segment.

29. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the storage request comprises a token directive to store the data segment token, the storage request being free from data of the data segment.

30. The computer program product of claim 27, wherein the storage request comprises data from the data segment and further comprising generating a token directive to create the data segment token from the data segment, the token directive created in response to the storage request to store the data segment.