Storage device, computing system including the storage device, and method of operating the storage device

Abstract

A storage device includes a storage medium and a controller configured to control the storage medium. The controller includes an interface unit configured to interface with a host, a processing unit connected to the interface unit via a first signal line and configured to process a direct load operation and a direct store operation between the host and the controller, and at least one memory connected to the interface unit via a second signal line. The at least one memory is configured to temporarily store data read from the storage medium or data received from the host, and is configured to be directly accessed by the host.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of operating a storage device including a controller and a storage medium, the method comprising:
 receiving a first request from a host;   determining whether the first request includes a direct load request or a direct store request; and   performing a direct load operation in response to the direct load request by loading a first data stored in a buffer memory to the host or performing the direct store operation in response to the direct store request by storing a second data received from the host in the buffer memory,   wherein the buffer memory is included in the controller, and is configured to be directly accessible by the host.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the direct load operation further comprises determining, while performing the direct load request, whether the first data is in the buffer memory, and if determined that the first data is in the buffer memory, loading the first data to the host. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein, if determined that the first data is not in the buffer memory, performing a fill operation in which transmitting the first data stored in the storage medium to the buffer memory, and then loading the first data to the host. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the direct store operation further comprises determining, while performing the direct store command, whether the buffer memory has enough space for accommodating the second data, and if determined that the buffer memory has enough space, storing the second data in the buffer memory. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein, if determined that the buffer memory has not enough space, performing a flush operation in which transmitting a third data included in the buffer memory to the storage medium to secure enough space for storing the second data, and then storing the second data in the buffer memory. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing device information relating to the storage device in the buffer memory before receiving the first request, wherein the device information indicates a hardware configuration of the storage device to the host and the host utilizes the hardware configuration to issue the first request. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein storing the device information in the buffer memory comprises receiving the device information from the storage medium in response to an operation initiation signal or an initialization command, and storing the device information in the buffer memory. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises a processor, and a tightly coupled memory (TCM) disposed adjacent to the processor and accessible by the processor, wherein the buffer memory and the TCM are mapped to address spaces that are exclusive from each other in an address map. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to process the direct load operation and the direct store operation, and the TCM is configured to be directly accessible by the processor. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the TCM is further configured to temporarily store a data transfer command for communicating data between the controller and the storage medium. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the data transfer command includes a flush command for transmitting a third data temporarily stored in the buffer memory to the storage medium, and a fill command for transmitting the first data stored in the storage medium to the buffer memory. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the TCM includes at least one special function register (SFR) configured to perform the direct load operation and the direct store operation. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer memory comprises a first portion configured to temporarily store raw data read from the storage medium or raw data received from the host, and a second portion configured to temporarily store metadata corresponding to the raw data. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the buffer memory comprises at least one DRAM device and/or at least one SRAM device. 
     
     
         15 . A method of operating a storage device including a controller and a storage medium, the method comprising:
 receiving a first request from a host;   determining whether the first command includes a normal write/read request or a direct load/store request; and   performing a normal write/read operation in response to the normal write/read request or performing a direct load/store operation in response to the direct load/store request,   wherein the direct load/store operation comprises:
 determining whether the direct load/store request is a direct load request or a direct store request; and 
 performing a direct load operation upon receiving the direct load request by loading a first data stored in a buffer memory to the host or performing the direct store operation upon receiving the direct store request by storing a second data received from the host in the buffer memory, 
 wherein the buffer memory is included in the controller, and is configured to be directly accessible by the host. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein, during normal write/read operation, a data to be written to or read from the storage medium is temporarily stored in a main memory which is configured to be accessible by the host, and the main memory is located outside the storage device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the direct load operation further comprises determining, while performing the direct load request, whether the first data is in the buffer memory, and if determined that the first data is in the buffer memory, loading the first data to the host. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein, if determined that the first data is not in the buffer memory, performing a fill operation in which transmitting the first data stored in the storage medium to the buffer memory, and then loading the first data to the host. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the direct store operation further comprises determining, while performing the direct store command, whether the buffer memory has enough space for accommodating the second data, and if determined that the buffer memory has enough space, storing the second data in the buffer memory. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein, if determined that the buffer memory has not enough space, performing a flush operation in which transmitting a third data included in the buffer memory to the storage medium to secure enough space for storing the second data, and then storing the second data in the buffer memory.