Non-volatile memory cache performance improvement

US7644239B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Cenk Ergan · Bellevue, US
• Clark D. Nicholson · Seattle, US
• Dan Teodosiu · Kirkland, US
• Dean L. DeWhitt · Sammamish, US
• Emily Nicole Hill · Seattle, US
• Hanumantha Rao Kodavalla · Sammamish, US
• Michael James Zwilling · Bellevue, US
• John M. Parchem · Seattle, US
• Michael R. Fortin · Redmond, US
• Nathan Steven Obr · Bellevue, US
• Rajeev Y. Nagar · Sammamish, US
• Surenda Verma · Bellevue, US
• Therron Powell · Redmond, US
• William J. Westerinen · Issaquah, US
• Mark J. Zbikowski · Woodinville, US
• Patrick L. Stemen · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 3, 2004
• Grant date: Jan 5, 2010
• Expiry date: Aug 13, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02D10/00
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

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.