Reverse directory structure in a garbage collection unit (GCU)
US10896002B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 6, 2018 |
| Grant date | Jan 19, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 28, 2038 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/1044
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Apparatus and method for managing metadata in a data storage device such as a solid-state drive (SSD). In some embodiments, a write stream is formed of user data blocks to be sequentially written to a non-volatile memory (NVM). An entry of a reverse directory footer is generated for each user data block in the write stream to describe a physical address in the NVM at which the corresponding user data block is to be stored. The entries are accumulated in a buffer memory until the total count of entries reaches a predetermined threshold and a complete footer data structure is formed. The complete footer data structure is thereafter inserted into the write stream for writing, with the data blocks, to the NVM. The complete footer data structure has an overall size that corresponds to an overall size of each of the user data blocks.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.