Dual Controller Storage Device Multi-Host Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Portable storage devices can only maintain one active connection at a time, limiting their ability to simultaneously connect and exchange data with multiple hosts through different interfaces, and existing solutions require complex third-party applications for coordination.
Innovation Solution
A storage device with two controllers and memory units, each connected to a different interface, allowing simultaneous connection to multiple hosts while managing access and data exchange through specific configurations and communication between controllers to prevent data conflicts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a portable device provides multiple interfaces for connection with different hosts, then the device's connectivity and versatility are improved, but the device can only maintain one active data channel at a time, reducing operational convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The storage device is divided into multiple memory units (first memory unit and second memory unit), each with dedicated access paths through different controllers. This segmentation allows independent data channels for different hosts, enabling simultaneous multi-host connectivity without interference between channels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of memory architecture by providing separate memory units for different hosts, transforming the traditional single-channel constraint into a multi-channel parallel structure. This dimensional expansion enables concurrent data operations across multiple interfaces without sacrificing operational convenience.
2Productivity
If a portable device maintains multiple active connections simultaneously, then data exchange capability with multiple hosts is improved, but data conflicts and access control complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The memory storage is segmented into distinct first and second memory units, each accessible through dedicated controllers (first controller and second controller). This segmentation isolates data access paths, preventing conflicts between multiple hosts while maintaining high data exchange capability through parallel operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces controllers as intermediary components between hosts and memory units. These controllers manage access rights and coordinate data operations, simplifying the access control mechanism while enabling simultaneous multi-host connections. The first controller manages the first memory unit for the first host, while the second controller manages the second memory unit for the second host.
3Device complexity
If a single controller manages all memory units, then device structure is simplified, but the controller cannot simultaneously serve multiple hosts with different access requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The single controller is segmented into multiple independent controllers (first controller and second controller), each dedicated to managing specific memory units for particular hosts. This segmentation enables simultaneous service to multiple hosts with different access requirements while keeping each individual controller's structure simple and focused.
Solution Approach 2:
Each controller is designed with universal functionality to manage its assigned memory units while serving specific host requirements. The first controller universally manages the first memory unit for the first host, and the second controller universally manages the second memory unit for the second host, enabling flexible multi-host compatibility through standardized controller design.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage device and memory accessing method configure two separate memory units, each with dedicated I/O channel, accessible by two controllers, each corresponding to an interface connected to a host, and allows the storage device to establish at least two connections to the different hosts. As more than one connection is established between the storage device and the hosts at the same time, a first controller has both read and write accessibility to a first memory unit and a second controller has both read and write accessibility to a second memory unit, while the first controller has read-only accessibility to the second memory unit and the second controller has read-only accessibility to the second memory unit.