Flashless Peripheral Recovery via Management Controller Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Flashless peripheral devices connected to data processing systems become undetectable and unusable, causing disruptions and inefficiencies in computer-implemented services due to issues like missing firmware, driver malfunctions, or hardware compatibility problems.

Innovation Solution

A management controller within the data processing system identifies and manages flashless peripheral devices by using i2c discovery mechanisms and communication interfaces to detect and recover them, transitioning them into a non-flashless state or a low power mode to minimize disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If flashless peripheral devices are connected to the data processing system, then the system can provide more functionality and services, but the devices become undetectable and unusable causing disruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevice detectability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The management controller performs preliminary actions by proactively identifying flashless peripheral devices before they cause system disruptions. The controller scans for devices in a flashless state and initiates recovery procedures in advance, preventing the devices from becoming undetectable and unusable, thus maintaining both functionality and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the management controller uses i2c discovery mechanisms to detect flashless devices, then device detection capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice detection capabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The management controller acts as an intermediary between the data processing system and peripheral devices. It uses i2c discovery mechanisms as a mediating communication interface to detect flashless devices without requiring changes to the core system architecture, thus improving detection capability while minimizing system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If recovery actions are instantiated to restore flashless devices, then device functionality is restored, but system downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidsystem downtime

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The management controller performs preliminary identification of flashless devices before they fully disrupt system operation. By detecting and initiating recovery procedures in advance, the controller minimizes the actual downtime required to restore device functionality, achieving both reliability improvement and time efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20260030179A1Management and recovery of flashless data processing system peripheral devices

Publication Date: 2026.01.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Methods and systems for managing a data processing system are disclosed. In particular, one or more flashless peripheral devices may be connected to the data processing system. These flashless peripheral devices are unable to provide services they were originally designed to provide, and may not even be detectable by the data processing system. A management controller of the data processing system may use various resources of the data processing system to identify the existence of these flashless peripheral devices. Once identified, the flashless peripheral devices may be restored, by the management controller, to be able to provide the services that these peripheral devices were originally designed to provide.