Data storage system comprising a mapping bridge for aligning host block size with physical block size of a data storage device

• US 8,255,661 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A. (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Western Digital Technologies Incorporated (Western Digital Corporation)
• Inventors: Karr, Christopher P., Procyk, Richard J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore, Stephen
• Application Number:
  US12/618,667
• Publication Number:
  US 20110119464A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 711/171, 711/4, 711/103, 711/111, 711/154, 711/165, 711/202, 711/218
• US Class Current: 711/171
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0658 Controller construction arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0661 Format or protocol conversion arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device

Abstract

A data storage system is disclosed comprising a non-volatile memory and a first interface operable to receive a write command from a host, the write command comprising a host write data block having a host logical block size. A block mapping bridge divides the host write data block into a plurality of transfer data blocks, wherein each transfer data block having a device logical block size smaller than the host logical block size. The transfer data blocks are transmitted through a second interface to control circuitry that accumulates the transfer data blocks into a physical data block having a device physical block size equal to a first integer multiple of the device logical block size, wherein the host logical block size is a second integer multiple of the device physical block size. The physical data block is then written to the non-volatile memory.

Claims

1. A data storage system comprising:

a non-volatile memory;

a first interface operable to receive a write command from a host, the write command comprising a host write data block having a host logical block size; and

a block mapping bridge operable to;

divide the host write data block into a plurality of transfer data blocks, wherein each transfer data block having a device logical block size smaller than the host logical block size;

transmit the transfer data blocks through a second interface to control circuitry, wherein the control circuitry operable to;

accumulate the transfer data blocks into a physical data block having a device physical block size equal to a first integer multiple of the device logical block size, wherein;

the host logical block size is a second integer multiple of the device physical block size;

the first integer is greater than one; and

the second integer is at least one; and

write the physical data block to the non-volatile memory.

2. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second integer equals one such that the host logical block size equals the device physical block size.

3. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the block mapping bridge is further operable to:

receive a format query from the host requesting a block size of the data storage system; and

return the second integer multiple of the device physical block size in response to the format query.

4. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the first interface is further operable to receive a read command from the host; and

the block mapping bridge is further operable to;

read the plurality of transfer data blocks from the non-volatile memory through the second interface and accumulate the transfer data blocks into a host read data block having the host logical block size; and

transfer the host read data block to the host.

5. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second interface comprises an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA).

6. The data storage system as recited in claim 5, wherein the first interface comprises a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).

7. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the block mapping bridge comprises a device driver executed by a host operating system.

8. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the block mapping bridge comprises firmware integrated with the second interface.

9. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a disk.

10. The data storage system as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a semiconductor memory.

11. A method of operating a data storage system comprising a non-volatile memory, the method comprising:

receiving a write command through a first interface from a host, the write command comprising a host write data block having a host logical block size;

dividing the host write data block into a plurality of transfer data blocks, wherein each transfer data block having a device logical block size smaller than the host logical block size;

transmitting the transfer data blocks through a second interface;

accumulating the transfer data blocks into a physical data block having a device physical block size equal to a first integer multiple of the device logical block size, wherein;

the host logical block size is a second integer multiple of the device physical block size;

the first integer is greater than one; and

the second integer is at least one; and

writing the physical data block to the non-volatile memory.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second integer equals one such that the host logical block size equals the device physical block size.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a format query from the host requesting a block size of the data storage system; and

returning the second integer multiple of the device physical block size in response to the format query.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a read command from the host;

reading the plurality of transfer data blocks from the non-volatile memory through the second interface and accumulate the transfer data blocks into a host read data block having the host logical block size; and

transferring the host read data block to the host.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the second interface comprises an Advanced Technology Attachment (ATA).

16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the first interface comprises a Small Computer System Interface (SCSI).

17. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a disk.

18. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein the non-volatile memory comprises a semiconductor memory.