Non-Volatile Memory Cache Performance Improvement

• US 20170132136A1
• Filed: 07/21/2016
• Published: 05/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Ergan, Cenk, Zwilling, Michael J., Fortin, Michael R., Obr, Nathan Steven, Powell, Therron, Westerinen, William J., Stemen, Patrick L., Nicholson, Clark D., Teodosiu, Daniel, DeWhitt, Dean L., Wilson, Emily Nicole, Kodavalla, Hanumantha R., Parchem, John M., Nagar, Rajeev Y., Verma, Surenda, Zbikowski, Mark Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 10,216,637 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/1016 Performance improvement
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/222 Non-volatile memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/281 Single cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/305 being part of a memory device, e.g. cache DRAM
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/312 In storage controller
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/313 In storage device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0656 Data buffering arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

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.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that a long-term storage medium is preparing a long-term storage medium for access; and

opportunistically performing an action requiring accessing the long-term storage medium as a result of the indication.