Dual Bit Pattern Encoding for Storage Drive Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Enterprise class storage systems face data unavailability and loss due to accidental power disablement of multiple drives caused by failures in integrated circuits or bus devices, which can occur during fault conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and information handling system that employs a power control circuit with a dual bit pattern encoding scheme to selectively manage power to storage drives, using a service processor to convert the dual bit pattern into a discrete signal for implementing power changes during fault conditions, thereby preventing accidental power disablement of multiple drives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If integrated circuits and bus devices are used to control power to multiple drives, then power management capability is improved, but the risk of accidental power disablement to multiple drives increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the power control system into separate independent control circuits for each drive, where each circuit has its own fault isolation mechanism. This segmentation ensures that a fault in one circuit does not propagate to other drives, resolving the contradiction by maintaining power management capability while reducing the risk of mass power disablement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary encoding scheme that translates control signals into a format where faults must occur in multiple independent locations to cause erroneous power disablement. This intermediary layer acts as a buffer that preserves the ability to manage power while significantly reducing the probability of accidental mass disablement.
2Reliability
If dual bit pattern encoding is implemented, then fault tolerance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter representation from single-bit to dual-bit encoding, where each power control signal is represented by two bits that must both be faulty to cause an error. This parameter change improves fault tolerance while the complexity increase is minimal and confined to the encoding/decoding logic.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for power management of storage drives. The method includes selecting an initial predetermined dual bit pattern that corresponds to a select power state of the storage drive, for providing to a first and second bit pin of a bit pin pair of a power control circuit that respectively connects to the storage drive. The method includes providing the initial predetermined dual bit pattern to the power control circuit which generates a discrete signal to the storage drive. The method includes encoding the initial predetermined dual bit pattern on the first bit pin and the second bit pin to selectively implement a power change on the storage drive in response to identification of a fault condition. In response to detection of the fault condition, the method includes selectively managing power to the storage drive based on input of the discrete signal.