Method and Storage Device for Using File System Data to Predict Host Device Operations

• US 20140082324A1
• Filed: 09/14/2012
• Published: 03/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SanDisk Technologies LLC (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Dolgunov, Boris, Elhamias, Reuven
• Application Number:
  US13/618,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20140082324A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/213
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0862 with prefetch

Abstract

A method and storage device for using file system data to predict host device operations are disclosed. In one embodiment, a storage device is disclosed having a first memory storing data and file system metadata, a second memory, and a controller. In response to receiving a command from the host device to read a first address in the first memory, the controller reads data from the first address in the first memory and returns it to the host device. The controller predicts a second address in the first memory to be read by a subsequent read command from the host device, reads the data from the predicted second address, and stores it in the second memory.

Claims

1. A storage device comprising:

a host device interface through which the storage device can communicate with a host device;

a first memory storing data and file system metadata;

a second memory; and

a controller in communication with host device interface and the first and second memories, wherein the controller is configured to perform the following;

in response to receiving a command from the host device to read a first address in the first memory;

read data from the first address in the first memory and return it to the host device;

predict a second address in the first memory to be read by a subsequent read command from the host device, wherein the second address is predicted using the file system metadata and the first address; and

read the data from the predicted second address and store it in the second memory.

2. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

in response to receiving a command from the host device to read the second address in the first memory;

return the data stored in the second memory instead of reading the second address in the first memory.

3. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to store the data read from the first address in the second memory before returning the data to the host device.

4. The storage device of claim 3, wherein the data is processed before it is returned to the host device.

5. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to use the predicted second address to perform a memory management function.

6. The storage device of claim 5, wherein the memory management function comprises one or more of the following:

garbage collection, read scrubbing, compaction, folding, updating a translation table update, and wear leveling.

7. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the data is encrypted, and wherein the controller is further configured to use the predicted second address to locate a key to decrypt the data.

8. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to, in response to receiving a write command from the host, predict an address and determine if the predicted address to available to be written into.

9. The storage device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform the predicting act without needed a special command from the host device.

10. A method for using file system metadata to predict an address, the method comprising:

performing the following in a storage device having a first memory storing data and file system metadata and a second memory;

in response to receiving a command from the host device to read a first address in the first memory;

reading data from the first address in the first memory and returns it to the host device;

predicting a second address in the first memory to be read by a subsequent read command from the host device, wherein the second address is predicted using the file system metadata and the first address; and

reading the data from the predicted second address and stores it in the second memory.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

in response to receiving a command from the host device to read the second address in the first memory;

returning the data stored in the second memory instead of reading the second address in the first memory.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising storing the data read from the first address in the second memory before returning the data to the host device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising processing the data before it is returned to the host device.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising using the predicted second address to perform a memory management function.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the memory management function comprises one or more of the following:

garbage collection, read scrubbing, compaction, folding, updating a translation table update, and wear leveling.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the data is encrypted, and wherein the method further comprises using the predicted second address to locate a key to decrypt the data.

17. The method of claim 10 further comprising in response to receiving a write command from the host, predicting an address and determines if the predicted address to available to be written into.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the predicting is performed without needed a special command from the host device.