Configurable I/O Error Correction for Data-in-Flight Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Server computers face challenges in detecting errors during data transmission between I/O adapter devices and storage locations due to the lack of mechanisms to track data in flight, leading to undetected errors that can result in data corruption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an I/O adapter device that calculates and provides error correction values for write data and checks error correction values for read data, allowing for the detection of errors and enabling corrective measures such as retransmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If error correction values are calculated and transmitted with all data, then data transmission reliability is improved, but transmission bandwidth and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic configuration of error correction by allowing the error correction value configuration to be changed based on operational conditions. The system can adjust between different error correction strategies (calculating for all data vs. calculating for blocks) depending on the specific transmission requirements, thereby optimizing the balance between reliability and bandwidth usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of error correction application from a fixed state to a variable state. By configuring whether to calculate error correction values for all data or for blocks of data based on different conditions, the system dynamically adjusts the level of error protection to match the actual transmission needs, reducing unnecessary overhead while maintaining reliability.
2Measurement precision
If error correction values are calculated for all data, then detection precision is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing data into blocks and calculating error correction values for each block rather than for the entire data set. This allows the system to maintain error detection capability while reducing the computational burden and processing time, as error correction is performed on smaller, manageable segments rather than on all data at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial action by calculating error correction values for blocks of data rather than for all data in every transmission. This selective approach provides sufficient error detection precision for most cases while avoiding the excessive processing time that would result from calculating error correction for every single data element.
3Device complexity
If error correction configuration is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different transmission conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by implementing a dynamic configuration mechanism. The error correction value configuration is not fixed but can be adjusted based on transmission conditions, data size, and performance requirements. This allows the system to adapt to different scenarios while maintaining relatively simple configuration management through standardized configuration parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
Server computers often include one or more input/output (I/O) devices for communicating with a network or direct attached storage device. Data written to or read from storage devices may acquire errors in transit. The I/O adapter device may implement processes to generate or check error correction values, where the error correction values are provided to verify the correctness of the written or read value. The I/O adapter device may determine the portion of the data to be used in calculating the error correction value in a flexible and configurable manner.