Firmware Update Method for JBOD Storage Extension Chips
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Solution Overview
Problem
JBOD systems experience performance degradation during firmware updates due to the complexity of updating multiple firmware levels across various storage extension chips, leading to slowed system operations.
Innovation Solution
A firmware updating method where a motherboard sends signals to primary storage extension chips, which then update their respective secondary storage extension chips, ensuring redundant and efficient firmware updates across the JBOD system, with each chip's firmware controlling the update of its associated flash memory.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If firmware updates are performed across multiple storage extension chips in a JBOD system, then firmware reliability is improved, but system performance deteriorates due to the complexity of coordinating updates across multiple chips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the firmware update process into hierarchical levels: primary storage extension chips receive updates directly from the host system, then act as update sources for their connected secondary storage extension chips. This segmentation allows parallel update propagation across multiple chips without requiring sequential coordination, thereby maintaining system performance while ensuring comprehensive firmware updates.
2Productivity
If firmware updates are propagated through primary storage extension chips to secondary storage extension chips, then update efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to the hierarchical update structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the update management function into the existing primary storage extension chips, which already have direct host system connectivity. By combining the role of update receiver and update distributor in the primary chips, the system achieves efficient firmware propagation without adding separate update management hardware, thus limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Loss of time
If multiple storage extension chips are updated simultaneously, then update time is reduced, but system stability worsens due to potential conflicts in the update process
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary actions by having primary storage extension chips receive and validate firmware updates from the host system before propagating them to secondary chips. This preliminary preparation and validation phase ensures that update packages are verified and ready, allowing simultaneous propagation to multiple secondary chips without conflicts, thus reducing total update time while maintaining system stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A firmware updating method in just a bunch of disks includes the following blocks. A motherboard is coupled to a first primary storage extension chip or to a second primary storage extension chip. The first primary storage extension chip and the second primary storage extension chip are coupled to each other. At least one secondary storage extension chip is coupled to the first primary storage extension chip. At least one secondary storage extension chip is coupled to the second primary storage extension chip. A signal sent to the first primary storage extension chip or to the second primary storage extension chip by the motherboard causes firmware of each storage extension chip to be updated.