Lane-Reversed Storage Interfaces for Single- and Dual-Port Drives

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing information handling systems face challenges in supporting both single- and dual-ported drives within the same enclosure without impacting system reliability and introducing minimal single points of failure.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a storage medium with a first storage interface using standard routing for communications lanes and a second storage interface using lane reversal routing, ensuring orderly link training and high availability through redundant communication paths.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If single-port and dual-port drives are supported within the same enclosure using traditional routing methods, then system compatibility is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to increased single points of failure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive type compatibilityVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The communication lanes are segmented into two distinct routing paths: standard routing for the first storage interface and lane reversal routing for the second storage interface. This segmentation allows independent failure modes for each path, preventing a single point of failure from affecting both interfaces simultaneously, thereby resolving the contradiction between supporting multiple drive types and maintaining system reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies lane reversal routing where the lane assignment is inverted for the second storage interface compared to the first. Specifically, while the first interface uses lanes in ascending order (lane 0, lane 1, lane 2, lane 3), the second interface uses lanes in descending order (lane 3, lane 2, lane 1, lane 0). This inversion creates independent failure domains that resolve the reliability issue while maintaining compatibility with both single-port and dual-port drives

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional active components, paddle cards, or population matrices are added to support both single- and dual-ported drives, then drive type versatility is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive type supportVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The communication interface is designed with universal multi-functionality to support both single-port and dual-port drives without requiring additional components. By implementing lane reversal routing at the firmware/software level, the same physical infrastructure can adapt to different drive configurations, eliminating the need for paddle cards, population matrices, or other hardware add-ons, thus resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces potential mechanical or hardware-based solutions (such as paddle cards or population matrices) with a software/firmware-based lane reversal mechanism. This substitution maintains the ability to support multiple drive types while significantly reducing device complexity by eliminating physical components that would add to the system

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS20250335387A1Systems and methods for enabling single-port and dual-port storage media in a common slot with lane reversal

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system may include a storage medium, a first storage interface communicatively coupled to the storage medium, and a second storage interface communicatively coupled to the storage medium. Communications lanes of a communications port of the first storage interface may be routed via standard routing to lower communications lanes of the storage medium and communications lanes of a communications port of the second storage interface may be routed via lane reversal routing to higher communications lanes of the storage medium. The storage medium may be accessible over a plurality of paths whether it is dual-ported or single-ported.