Storage Device Throttling in Proof of Space Blockchain Systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023288952-A1
Application number	US-202217584097-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 25, 2022
Priority date	Jan 25, 2022
Publication date	Sep 14, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Storage devices are configured to be utilized in a variety of blockchain related activities that rely on a proof of space consensus model. These storage devices are required to process a lot of read and write cycles on their memory devices to generate the desired proof of space consensus data. The generation and storing of this generated data require very different types of memory device usage. As these operations increase in popularity, the need to segment storage devices meant for proof of space usage and those which are not becomes more important. Storage devices may be configured to throttle these different usage types upon detecting these proof of space blockchain activities. Throttling may include reducing clock frequencies, selecting slower performing trim parameters, and programming memory devices with a reduced voltage window, among other processes. Detecting whether throttling should commence, or end can be done via a deployed machine learning classifier.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A device comprising:
a processor; a memory array comprising:
a plurality of memory devices;
wherein the plurality of memory devices are configurable into one or more namespaces; and

a proof of space throttling logic configured to:
determine that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities;
select one or more clock frequencies for reduction;
throttle the storage device by reducing the selected clock frequencies for the portion of memory devices being utilized for the one or more proof of space blockchain activities; and
cease throttling the storage device by reinstating, upon a determination that the proof of space blockchain activities have ended, the one or more clock frequencies for the portion of memory devices utilized.

2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least a portion of the memory devices are configured within a namespace.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the determination that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities is based on analyzing the namespace identification data.

4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein the determination that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities is in response to the namespace identification data matching namespace identification data previously associated with proof of space blockchain activities.

5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the determination that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities is based on receiving a vendor specific command.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the determination that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities is based on analyzing received host commands.

7 . The device of claim 6 , wherein the analysis of the received host commands includes comparing memory device read and write activities with known proof of space blockchain activity patterns.

8 . The device of claim 6 , wherein a machine learning classifier is utilized to analyze the received host commands to determine proof of space blockchain activity.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein, the machine learning classifier can analyze other attributes within the storage device to determine proof of space blockchain activity.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the determination on throttling the storage device is based upon exceeding a predetermined threshold of proof of space throttling activity.

11 . A device comprising:
a processor; a memory array comprising:
a plurality of memory devices;
wherein the plurality of memory devices are configurable into one or more namespaces; and

a proof of space throttling logic configured to:
determine that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities;
determine one or more memory device trim parameters that have slower operating options;
enable the determined slower operating memory device trim parameters for the portion of memory devices being utilized for the one or more proof of space blockchain activities; and
reenable, upon a determination that the proof of space blockchain activities have ended, the one or more normal operating memory device trim parameters for the portion of memory devices utilized.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the determination that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities is in response to namespace identification data matching namespace identification data previously associated with proof of space blockchain activities.

13 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the determination that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities is based on receiving a vendor specific command.

14 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the determination that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities is based on analyzing received host commands.

15 . The device of claim 14 , The device of claim 6 , wherein a machine learning classifier is utilized to analyze the received host commands to determine proof of space blockchain activity.

16 . A device comprising:
a processor; a memory array comprising:
a plurality of memory devices;
wherein the plurality of memory devices are configurable into one or more namespaces; and

a proof of space throttling logic configured to:
determine that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities;
throttle the storage device by:
selecting a reduced voltage window setting; and
programming the portion of memory devices being utilized for the one or more proof of space blockchain activities with the selected reduced voltage window setting; and
cease throttling the storage device by programming, upon a determination that the proof of space blockchain activities have ended, the portion of memory devices utilized at a non-reduced voltage window setting.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein a machine learning classifier is utilized to determine that at least a portion of the memory devices are being utilized for one or more proof of space blockchain activities by analyzing one or more attributes of the accessing of the plurality of memory devices.

18 . The device of claim 17 , wherein the attributes are selected from the following: time, access type, logical address, address range, namespace, access size, ratio of access size to time, or ratio of access to write commands.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the throttling comprises reducing the available single-level cell cache memory devices.

20 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the throttling comprises disabling performance enhancing features.

Assignees

• Western Digital Tech Inc

Inventors

• Zamir Ran
• Avraham David
• Bazarsky Alexander

Classifications

• G06F3/0683

  Plurality of storage devices · CPC title

• G06F3/064

  Management of blocks · CPC title

• G06F3/0604 Primary

  Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management · CPC title

• G06F1/08 Primary

  Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency · CPC title

• G06F1/324 Primary

  by lowering clock frequency · CPC title