Flash Memory Vault for Power Failure Data Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data storage systems face inefficiencies and high costs due to the need for large, complex backup power supplies and external cabling for magnetic disk drives during power failures, as they rely on magnetic disk drives that consume significant power even during short durations.

Innovation Solution

The system moves data from a storage cache to a flash-based memory vault in response to a power failure signal, using a small backup power source, allowing magnetic disk drives to turn off and eliminating the need for costly backup power supplies and cabling, with the storage processor preserving data integrity by transferring data to the flash-based memory vault.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If magnetic disk drives are used to store data during power failures, then data storage capability is provided, but backup power supply size and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata storage capabilityVSAvoidbackup power supply complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical disk drive system with a flash-based memory vault that has no moving parts. This substitution eliminates the need for backup power supplies for the disk drives, as flash memory can be written to and read from without requiring mechanical operation or power consumption during the power failure event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the data storage function from the mechanical disk drive system and places it in a separate flash-based memory vault. This extraction allows the magnetic disk drives to be turned off during power failures, eliminating the need for large backup power supplies while preserving data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If external backup power supplies with cabling are used for magnetic disk drives, then data protection during power failures is achieved, but serviceability requirements and component failure susceptibility increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidserviceability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing mechanical disk drives with a flash-based memory vault, the patent eliminates the need for external backup power supplies and their associated cabling. This removes the serviceability burdens and component failure risks associated with external power supply connections while maintaining data protection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the power supply and cabling components from the system by using flash memory that does not require external power during operation. This extraction simplifies the system architecture, improving serviceability and reducing the number of components that can fail.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Productivity

If magnetic disk drives continue operating during power failures, then data can be written to disk, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata writing capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes mechanical disk drives with flash-based memory that requires minimal power for data operations. This allows the system to maintain data writing capability during power failures without the significant power consumption associated with operating magnetic disk drive motors, fans, and actuators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the power consumption parameter by using flash memory technology that operates at much lower power levels compared to mechanical disk drives. This enables the system to preserve data integrity during power failures while consuming minimal energy, allowing the use of small backup power sources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS7421552B2Techniques for managing data within a data storage system utilizing a flash-based memory vault

Publication Date: 2008.09.02 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

A technique for managing data within a data storage system involves performing data storage operations on behalf of a set of hosts (i.e., one or more hosts) using a volatile-memory storage cache and a set of magnetic disk drives while the data storage system is being powered by a primary power source (e.g., a main power feed). The technique further involves receiving a power failure signal (e.g., from a sensor) indicating that the data storage system is now being powered by a backup power source rather than by the primary power source (e.g., due to a loss of the main power feed, due to a failure of a power converter, etc.), and moving data from the volatile-memory storage cache of the data storage system to a flash-based memory vault of the data storage system in response to the power failure signal.