Next Generation Mass Memory Architecture (Original title: Development of a Mass Memory Module with Embedded File System Support)
The Payload Processing System architecture is able to host a set of well defined modules (Processing, Storage, I/O) interconnected through a network. As far as storage modules are concerned, a first demonstrator of the concept was developed and manufactured (High Capacity Memory Buffer). Based on standard interfaces, the module was designed in order to be very close in terms of functionality to a "solid state" disk providing basically to the User a sea of data blocks (random block mode) rather than emulating a tape recorder (LIFO/FIFO modes).Building on this, it appears clearly that the set of data blocks can be organised in a more flexible manner by embedding block allocation tables in the mass memory module itself. Of course and ultimately, the link between a "file" as seen by the payload data system controller and block allocation tables shall be established by a well defined split of functions between the supervisor and the high capacity buffer. This activity will focus on the development of a mass memory module embedding file system support following the concept outlined above.