Backplane Controller USB HID Interface for Direct Host Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of direct communication protocols between a host computer and a backplane controller in data centers, hindering efficient management and monitoring of storage drives, as existing methods rely on indirect connections through proprietary protocols or baseboard management controllers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system with a backplane controller equipped with a processor, non-volatile memory, and a USB interface, which sends and receives USB descriptors to recognize itself as a human interface device (HID) to the host computer, enabling direct communication via USB HID reports with a predefined format, including headers, data, and footers, for effective drive management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a backplane controller uses proprietary protocols or indirect connections through baseboard management controllers to communicate with storage drives, then it can achieve storage drive monitoring and management, but it lacks direct communication channels with host computers and requires complex protocol support
Solution Approach 1:
The backplane controller is equipped with a USB interface that enables it to function as both a storage drive management controller and a universal USB device. This allows the controller to communicate with host computers using the widely accepted USB protocol while maintaining its原有 storage management capabilities, thereby reducing protocol complexity and improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The USB interface acts as an intermediary communication channel between the backplane controller and the host computer. By using USB descriptors and HID reports as intermediate data structures, the system establishes a standardized communication path that simplifies the interaction between components with different native protocols.
2Reliability
If the backplane controller implements USB interface with HID device driver and firmware, then it can establish direct communication channel with host computer, but it increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The backplane controller includes built-in firmware and USB HID device driver that enable it to autonomously manage its own USB communication interface. The controller can independently send USB descriptors to announce its identity and receive/process USB HID reports from the host computer without requiring external assistance, thereby improving communication reliability while keeping the added complexity self-contained.
Data Source
AI summary
Present disclosure relates to backplane controller configured as human interface device (HID) device to communicate with host computer through USB interface. Backplane controller includes: processor, memory, HID universal serial bus (USB) interface, and non-volatile memory. Non-volatile memory stores certain USB descriptors, drive management module, USB HID device driver, and firmware of the backplane controller. Firmware performs one or more of following operations: (a) connecting to host computer through USB interface, (b) sending USB descriptors to host computer to act as specific HID device, (c) instructing USB HID device driver of backplane controller to generate first USB HID report, (d) sending USB HID report to host computer through USB interface, (e) receiving second USB HID report from host computer through USB interface, (f) instructing USB HID device driver to retrieve and process report data from second USB HID report. USB interface includes HID USB interface, USB interface bus, host USB interface.