Hard Disk Manager for Cloud Storage Component Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cloud storage systems lack efficient methods to manage specific components of hard disks, such as System on Chip (SOC) and other components, from a cloud storage server perspective, leading to inefficiencies in power management and data operations.
Innovation Solution
A hard disk with a manager and communications interface, including a network interface and management interface, allows external systems to send commands for managing and performing read/write operations on the SOC and other components, enabling remote monitoring and control through interfaces like I2C bus or IPMI.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If cloud storage systems use traditional centralized management methods for hard disk components, then system control is maintained, but management efficiency is low and energy consumption is high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the hard disk system into independent manageable components (SOC, disk sheet motor, VCM) with dedicated management interfaces. Each component can be individually controlled and monitored, enabling precise power management and improving overall system efficiency without requiring centralized control of entire subsystems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a management interface as an intermediary between the cloud storage system and hard disk components. This interface layer enables efficient command transmission and status monitoring, reducing the need for continuous active monitoring and allowing components to be placed in low-power states when not in use.
2Loss of energy
If cloud storage systems implement component-level management of hard disks, then power consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal management interface that can handle multiple types of commands (power management, status monitoring, operational control) through a standardized protocol. This multi-functional interface reduces the need for separate specialized interfaces for each component, thereby managing complexity while enabling comprehensive component-level control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of hard disk components by enabling independent power state control (active, standby, sleep modes) for each component based on actual usage requirements. This parameter flexibility allows the system to reduce power consumption dynamically without requiring permanent architectural complexity.
3Use of energy by moving object
If cloud storage systems access shut-down hard disks using coprocessor takeover methods, then energy consumption is minimized, but access time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining management interface circuits and SOC in a low-power ready state even when the hard disk is shut down. This allows the system to quickly transition from shutdown to operational states when needed, reducing access time while still achieving significant energy savings compared to keeping entire subsystems active.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical coprocessor takeover methods with an electronic management interface approach. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming coprocessor initialization and handoff procedures, allowing faster wake-up and access to shut-down disks while maintaining low power consumption through selective component activation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention disclose a hard disk and a management method, to implement that a cloud storage service system manages a specific component or some components of a storage device (which is mainly a hard disk). The foregoing hard disk includes: a manager, a managed component, and a communications interface, where: the communications interface includes a network interface and a management interface, and the managed component includes at least an SOC; the manager is configured to: receive an external management command by using the management interface, process the received external management command, perform an operation corresponding to the external management command on a corresponding managed component, and return an operation result by using the management interface; and the network interface is configured to receive an external read/write operation command. It may be seen that, in the embodiments of the present invention, the manager may manage the managed component, for example, the SOC, according to the external management command. In this way, an external system or device (a cloud storage system or a cloud storage server) can manage a specific component or some components of a storage device (which is mainly a hard disk) via a manager by delivering an external management command.