Storage system having a host directly manage physical data locations of storage device

Abstract

A storage system includes a host including a processor and a memory unit, and a storage device including a controller and a non-volatile memory unit. The processor is configured to output a write command, write data, and size information of the write data, to the storage device, the write command that is output not including a write address. The controller is configured to determine a physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit in which the write data are to be written, based on the write command and the size information, write the write data in the physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit, and output the physical write location to the host. The processor is further configured generate, in the memory unit, mapping information between an identifier of the write data and the physical write location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A storage system, comprising:
 a host including a processor and a memory unit; and   a storage device including a controller and a non-volatile memory unit, wherein   the processor is configured to output a write command, write data, and size information of the write data, to the storage device, the write command that is output not including a write address,   the controller is configured to determine a physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit in which the write data are to be written, based on the write command and the size information, write the write data in the physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit, and output the physical write location to the host, and   the processor is further configured generate, in the memory unit, mapping information between an identifier of the write data and the physical write location.   
     
     
         2 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the storage device stores a management table indicating a state of each of physical regions of the non-volatile memory unit, and   the controller determines the physical write location based on the management table.   
     
     
         3 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processor is further configured to determine a physical read location of the non-volatile memory unit from which data are to be read using the mapping information, and output a read command and the physical read location, to the storage device, and   the controller is further configured to read data stored in the physical read location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the read command.   
     
     
         4 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processor is further configured to determine a physical deletion location of the non-volatile memory unit in which data are to be invalidated using the mapping information, and output a deletion command and the physical deletion location, to the storage device, and   the controller is further configured to invalidate data stored in the physical deletion location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the deletion command.   
     
     
         5 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the processor is further configured to output a command, a physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit from which data are to be copied, and size information of the data to be copied, to the storage device,   the controller is further configured to determine a physical destination location of the non-volatile memory unit to which the data are to be copied, based on the command and the size information of the data to be copied, copy the data stored in the physical copy location to the physical destination location without transferring the data to the host, and output the physical destination location to the host, and   the processor of the host is further configured to update the mapping information based on the physical destination location.   
     
     
         6 . The storage system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to invalidate the data stored in the physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the command.   
     
     
         7 . The storage system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second storage device including a second controller and a second non-volatile memory unit, wherein   the processor of the host is further configured to output a command, a physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit from which data are to be copied, and size information of the data to be copied, to the storage device,   the controller is further configured to read data stored in the physical copy location of non-volatile memory unit, and output a second write command, the read data, and size information of the read data, to the second storage device, and   the second controller is configured to determine a physical destination location of the second non-volatile memory unit in which the copied data are to be written, based on the second write command and the size information of the copied data, and write the read data in the physical destination location of the second non-volatile memory unit.   
     
     
         8 . The storage system according to  claim 7 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to invalidate the data stored in the physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the command.   
     
     
         9 . A storage device, comprising:
 a non-volatile memory unit;   a connection interface having a port connectable to a host, and configured to receive a write command, write data, and size information of the write data through the port, the write command that is received not including a write address; and   a controller configured to determine a physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit in which the write data are to be written, based on the write command and the size information, write the write data in the physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit, and control the connection interface to return the physical write location through the port.   
     
     
         10 . The storage device according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a second memory unit for storing a management table indicating a state of each of physical regions of the non-volatile memory unit, wherein   the controller determines the physical write location, also base on the management table.   
     
     
         11 . The storage device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the connection interface is further configured to receive a read command and a physical read location of the non-volatile memory unit from which data are to be read, through the port, and   the controller is further configured to read data stored in the physical read location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the read command, and control the connection interface to return the read data through the port.   
     
     
         12 . The storage device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the connection interface is further configured to receive a deletion command and a physical deletion location of the non-volatile memory unit in which data are to be invalidated, through the port, and   the controller is further configured to invalidate data stored in the physical deletion location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the deletion command, and control the connection interface to return a completion notification through the port.   
     
     
         13 . The storage device according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the connection interface is further configured to receive a command, a physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit from which data are to be copied, and size information of the data to be copied, through the port, and   the controller is further configured to determine a physical destination location of the non-volatile memory unit to which the data are to be copied, based on the command and the size information of the data to be copied, copy the data stored in the physical copy location to the physical destination location without transferring the data to the host, and control the connection interface to return the physical destination location through the port.   
     
     
         14 . The storage device according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the controller is further configured to invalidate the data stored in the physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the command.   
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a storage system including a host and a storage device having a non-volatile memory unit, comprising:
 transmitting, from the host to the storage device, a write command, write data, and size information of the write data, the write command that is transmitted not including a write address;   determining, in the storage device, a physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit in which the write data are to be written, based on the write command and the size information;   writing the write data in the physical write location of the non-volatile memory unit;   transmitting, from the storage device to the host, the physical write location; and   generating, in the host, mapping information between an identifier of the write data and the physical write location.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 generating, in the storage device, a management table indicating a state of each of physical regions of the non-volatile memory unit, wherein   the physical write location is determined, also based on the management table.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining, in the host, a physical read location of the non-volatile memory unit from which data are to be read, using the mapping information;   transmitting, from the host to the storage device, a read command and the physical read location; and   reading data stored in the physical read location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the read command.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining, in the host, a physical deletion location of the non-volatile memory unit in which data are to be invalidated, using the mapping information;   transmitting, from the host to the storage device, a deletion command and the physical deletion location; and   invalidating data stored in the physical deletion location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the deletion command.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 determining, in the host, a physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit from which data are to be copied, using the mapping information;   transmitting, from the host to the storage device, a command, the physical copy location, and size information of the data to be copied;   determining, in the storage device, a physical destination location of the non-volatile memory unit to which the data are to be copied, based on the command and the size information of the data to be copied;   copying the data stored in the physical copy location to the physical destination location without transferring the data to the host;   transmitting, from the storage device to the host, the physical destination location; and   updating the mapping information based on the physical destination location.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 invalidating the data stored in the physical copy location of the non-volatile memory unit, in accordance with the command.