Elastic Cache Partitioning During Power Transitions

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Large cache devices become unavailable for processing during transient energy swings, such as power-on and power-off sequences, due to the need for operational voltage, limiting their usage during these cycles.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of data capacity determination logic that dynamically changes the cache's data storage capacity in relation to transient energy during power state changes, allowing portions of the cache to be used at reduced energy levels by selectively powering cache partitions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the cache device is fully powered up during transient energy swings, then the cache can process data, but the energy consumption increases and availability is limited during power transitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecache availabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The cache device dynamically adjusts its operational state during transient energy swings by transitioning between fully powered, partially powered, and powered-down states. The cache controller monitors energy availability and selectively activates or deactivates cache partitions based on current energy conditions, allowing the system to adapt its power consumption and availability in real-time during power transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The cache device is divided into multiple independent cache partitions that can be selectively powered. During transient energy swings, the cache controller can activate only the necessary partitions while keeping others in a low-power or powered-off state, enabling partial cache availability without requiring full power-up and reducing overall energy consumption during transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If the cache device is kept in powered-down state to save energy, then energy consumption decreases, but the cache becomes unavailable for processing during transient energy swings

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcache availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of fully powering up the cache or keeping it completely powered down, the system applies partial action by activating only the necessary cache partitions during transient energy swings. This allows the cache to provide limited but useful functionality during power transitions, achieving a balance between energy savings and availability without requiring full power-up

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If the cache capacity is increased to improve performance, then data processing capability improves, but the cache becomes more sensitive to transient energy swings and unavailable during power transitions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata processing capabilityVSAvoidavailability during power transitions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The large cache device is segmented into multiple smaller, independently controllable partitions. During transient energy swings, the cache controller can selectively activate only the partitions needed for current data processing tasks, allowing the system to maintain high productivity when energy is available while reducing sensitivity to energy fluctuations when power transitions occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8943274B2Changing power state with an elastic cache

Publication Date: 2015.01.27 SEAGATE TECH LLC

AI summary

An apparatus and associated method is provided employing data capacity determination logic. The logic dynamically changes a data storage capacity of an electronic data storage memory. The change in capacity is made in relation to a transient energy during a power state change sequence performed by the electronic data storage memory.