Docking Station Telemetry Retrieval After Heartbeat Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing docking stations face OS failures due to issues like boot device problems, hardware failures, firmware issues, and outdated drivers, leading to bricked states, which hinder functionality and require real-time diagnostic data for recovery.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for collecting telemetry data from docking stations by storing identifiers and user credentials in a shared memory, registering with an external computing device, and using a stateless out-of-band channel to remotely access and retrieve telemetry data when the station goes offline.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If telemetry data is stored in shared memory of the docking station, then diagnostic data is available for recovery, but the docking station requires additional memory resources and data management complexity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedocking station recovery capabilityVSAvoidshared memory management

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the telemetry data storage function with the existing shared memory infrastructure of the docking station. By storing telemetry data in the shared memory that is already allocated for docking station operations, the system avoids adding separate storage hardware while ensuring diagnostic data is readily available for recovery operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared memory is designed to serve multiple functions: it stores both operational data for docking station activities and telemetry data for diagnostic purposes. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated separate storage resources while maintaining reliability for recovery operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If the docking station goes offline due to OS failures, then hardware may be bricked, but real-time telemetry data access is needed for diagnostics

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnostic data availabilityVSAvoiddocking station downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously storing telemetry data in the shared memory before OS failures occur. This ensures that when the docking station goes offline or becomes bricked, the diagnostic data is already captured and available, eliminating the need for time-consuming data recovery procedures after the failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The shared memory acts as an intermediary storage medium that maintains telemetry data independently of the OS state. Even when the OS fails and the docking station goes offline, the telemetry data remains intact in the shared memory, allowing external systems to access diagnostic information without being affected by the OS failure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If user credentials are stored in shared memory, then authentication is simplified, but security risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauthentication processVSAvoidsecurity vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the authentication function from the OS layer and places it at the shared memory level. By storing user credentials in the shared memory and handling authentication there, the system simplifies the authentication process while isolating credential storage from the vulnerable OS environment that may suffer from failures or security breaches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS12572172B2Collecting telemetry data of a docking station

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Collecting telemetry data of a docking station, including: storing i) an identifier of an information handling system and ii) user credentials of a user of the information handling system; registering management of the information handling system with an external computing device; registering management of the docking station with the external computing device; storing telemetry data associated with the information handling system; storing telemetry data associated with the docking station; determining that a heartbeat signal from the docking station has not been received within a time threshold, and in response: classifying the docking station as offline, and in response to the classifying: providing a request for i) the user credentials and ii) the telemetry data of the information handling system and the docking station; accessing the shared memory at the docking station; providing i) the user credentials and ii) the telemetry data of the information handling system and the docking station.