Hard Disk Control Device Idle Mode Power Saving

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods fail to effectively put a hard disk into a non-operative state due to periodic accesses by the operating system, making it difficult to enter power-saving modes like standby mode.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that detect the system mode and access frequency of a hard disk, blocking access commands when the frequency is below a threshold to save the commands and enter a power-saving mode, such as standby mode, and resume operations when necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by stationary object

If the hard disk is configured to be off to save power, then power consumption is reduced, but the operating system's periodical accesses prevent the hard disk from entering a non-operative state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidability to enter non-operative state

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by blocking access commands before the hard disk is accessed, allowing it to enter power-saving modes. The blocking module intercepts and holds access commands in memory, preventing them from reaching the hard disk during idle periods, thereby enabling the hard disk to transition to low-power states in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

A blocking module is introduced as an intermediary between the operating system and the hard disk. This mediator captures access commands from the operating system, evaluates whether to block them based on idle state detection, and manages the queue of blocked commands, allowing the hard disk to remain in power-saving modes while still fulfilling access requirements when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by stationary object

If access commands are blocked to enable power-saving mode, then power consumption is reduced, but access commands may be delayed or lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidaccess command delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by blocking access commands before the hard disk is accessed, allowing it to enter power-saving modes. The blocking module intercepts and holds access commands in memory, preventing them from reaching the hard disk during idle periods, thereby enabling the hard disk to transition to low-power states in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides beforehand cushioning by maintaining a queue of blocked access commands in memory. This cushion buffer ensures that when the hard disk needs to be accessed, the commands are already prepared and can be executed immediately after the power-saving state is exited, minimizing access delay and preventing command loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Reliability

If the hard disk remains in accessed state due to periodical accesses, then data access reliability is maintained, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by blocking access commands before the hard disk is accessed, allowing it to enter power-saving modes. The blocking module intercepts and holds access commands in memory, preventing them from reaching the hard disk during idle periods, thereby enabling the hard disk to transition to low-power states in advance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic action by continuously monitoring system idle states and periodically evaluating whether to block access commands. The idle state detection mechanism operates periodically, allowing the hard disk to alternate between power-saving modes and active states based on actual access requirements, thus balancing power consumption and data access reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS8788776B2Hard disk control method, hard disk control device and computer

Publication Date: 2014.07.22 LENOVO SOFTWARE

AI summary

A hard disk control method, a hard disk control device and a computer are provided The method includes detecting the current mode in which the system runs; determining the access frequency of the hard disk in the system when detecting the system runs in an idle mode currently; intercepting the hard disk access commands to be sent to the hard disk when the access frequency of the hard disk is lower than a predetermined access frequency threshold to make the hard disk enter into a preset power saving mode, and saving the hard disk access commands into a preset memory.