Adaptive Storage System with Dual Disk Drives for Power Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Laptop computers face a significant limitation in battery life due to the high power dissipation of components like hard disk drives, which reduces the time they can operate on batteries before needing recharging.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a dual-mode data storage system with a high power disk drive (HPDD) and a low power disk drive (LPDD), where the LPDD operates in low power mode by using adaptive storage modules to manage data transfer and storage between the two, optimizing power consumption by employing low power nonvolatile memory like flash memory or microdrives.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If a high power disk drive (HPDD) is used to provide sufficient storage capacity and performance, then data storage capability is improved, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is segmented into two distinct components: a high power disk drive (HPDD) for capacity-intensive operations and a low power disk drive (LPDD) for energy-constrained operations. This segmentation allows the system to provide sufficient storage capacity through the HPDD while enabling low-power mode operation using the LPDD, thereby resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically switches between high power and low power modes based on operational requirements. An adaptive storage module monitors power availability and data access patterns, dynamically selecting which disk drive to use and when to transfer data between drives. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize the trade-off between storage performance and power consumption in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If a low power disk drive (LPDD) is used to reduce power consumption, then battery life is extended, but data access speed and performance decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata access speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data transfer operations by proactively copying frequently accessed data from the low power disk drive (LPDD) to the high power disk drive (HPDD) before high-performance access is needed. This preliminary action ensures that when the HPDD is activated, the required data is already in place, maximizing data access speed while minimizing the time the high-power drive needs to operate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adaptive storage module acts as an intermediary that manages data transfer between the LPDD and HPDD. It monitors data access patterns and automatically transfers data between drives based on predicted usage, thereby ensuring that the LPDD maintains adequate data while the HPDD provides high-speed access when activated, resolving the speed-performance contradiction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If data is transferred between HPDD and LPDD to optimize power usage, then power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The adaptive storage module implements self-service by autonomously monitoring data access patterns, predicting future data needs, and automatically transferring data between the HPDD and LPDD without requiring complex external control systems. This self-managing approach reduces the overall system complexity while still achieving optimal power consumption through intelligent data placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Reliability

If the HPDD is activated frequently to maintain data accessibility, then data access reliability is improved, but battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access reliabilityVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data transfer operations by proactively copying frequently accessed data from the low power disk drive (LPDD) to the high power disk drive (HPDD) before high-performance access is needed. This preliminary action ensures that when the HPDD is activated, the required data is already in place, maximizing data access speed while minimizing the time the high-power drive needs to operate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2049968B1Adaptive storage system including hard disk drive with flash interface
Publication Date: 2019.07.10 MARVELL WORLD TRADE LTD
  • EP2049968B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2049968B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2049968B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

A data storage system for a device including low power and high power modes comprises low power (LP) nonvolatile memory that includes a LP hard disk drive (HDD) having a non-volatile semiconductor memory interface, wherein said LP HDD communicates with said device via said non-volatile semiconductor memory interface. High power (HP) nonvolatile memory communicates with said device.