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