Hard Disk Drive Seek Energy Settings by Request Priority

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage device systems consume excessive energy and fail to prioritize I/O requests efficiently, leading to latency and throughput issues due to static seek energy settings and lack of priority-based execution.

Innovation Solution

Implement adjustable seek energy settings based on request classifications and priority levels, allowing faster execution of high-priority requests and reduced energy consumption for lower-priority ones, using configuration tables to map priority levels to seek energy settings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If static seek energy settings are used for all requests, then device complexity is reduced, but energy efficiency and request prioritization capability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveseek energy setting managementVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic seek energy settings that adjust based on request priority levels. The system transitions from static to dynamic configuration by introducing a request priority field and corresponding seek energy level adjustments, allowing the storage device to optimize energy consumption while maintaining operational efficiency for different request types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the operational parameters of the storage device by introducing variable seek energy levels corresponding to different request priority levels. High-priority requests trigger higher seek energy settings for faster execution, while low-priority requests use lower energy settings, thereby optimizing overall energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If high seek energy settings are used for all requests, then request execution speed is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverequest execution speedVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies different seek energy settings to different requests based on their priority levels. Instead of uniformly applying high energy settings to all requests, the system selectively applies high energy only to high-priority requests (e.g., read-ahead, write-back) and lower energy to standard requests, achieving local optimization of energy usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses partial action by applying high seek energy settings only when necessary for high-priority requests, rather than continuously. This selective application of energy-intensive operations reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining performance where critical.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Use of energy by moving object

If low seek energy settings are used for all requests, then energy consumption is reduced, but request execution speed and throughput deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidrequest throughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts seek energy levels based on real-time request priority requirements. When high-priority requests are detected, the system transitions to higher energy modes to maintain throughput, and transitions to lower energy modes during periods of only standard-priority requests, thereby balancing productivity and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

4Device complexity

If requests are processed in FIFO order without priority classification, then device complexity is reduced, but request prioritization and latency performance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverequest management complexityVSAvoidrequest latency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the request queue into different priority levels by introducing a classification mechanism that categorizes requests as high-priority, standard-priority, or low-priority. This segmentation allows the system to manage different request types separately, applying appropriate seek energy settings to each category to optimize latency performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

5Use of energy by moving object

If priority-based seek energy adjustment is implemented, then energy efficiency and request prioritization are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy efficiencyVSAvoidseek energy management system
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system monitors request priority levels and automatically adjusts seek energy settings accordingly. The controller receives feedback about request characteristics and dynamically modifies operational parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes energy efficiency based on actual workload conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3918461B1Adjustable seek energy settings in storage device systems
Publication Date: 2025.08.27 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3918461B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3918461B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3918461B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Various methods and systems are provided for implementing classification-based adjustable seek energy settings in storage device systems. In particular, operations support adjusting seek energy settings for storage device components, for executing requests. In operation, a classification is selected for a request. The classification indicates a first priority level for executing the request. The priority level is associated with a first adjustable seek energy setting of a plurality adjustable seek energy settings for executing requests on the hard disk drive system, where a seek energy setting is an adjustable operational speed or energy setting for the hard disk drive system. Based on the classification indicating the priority level, the classification is transmitted to cause the hard disk drive system to set the adjustable seek energy setting. One or more hardware components of the hard disk drive system operates to execute the first request based on the first adjustable seek energy setting.