Loop Coupled Storage Apparatuses for Scalable Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage systems face challenges in scalability and cost-effectiveness due to increased communication load and network traffic as the system size grows, requiring expensive relay apparatuses or high-bandwidth networks to maintain performance.
Innovation Solution
A storage system configuration where storage apparatuses are coupled in a loop using local transmission paths, allowing control devices to communicate directly without a dedicated relay apparatus, distributing communication processing load across the system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If control devices are coupled via a relay apparatus, then communication between control devices is enabled, but communication load in the relay apparatus increases as system size increases, requiring expensive high-performance relay apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the communication function from a centralized relay apparatus and distributes it to each storage apparatus. Each storage apparatus independently manages its own control device communications, eliminating the need for a dedicated relay apparatus and distributing the communication processing load across the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a loop-form transmission path as an intermediary structure that connects storage apparatuses directly. This transmission path enables control devices to communicate with each other without requiring a relay apparatus, as the transmission path itself facilitates direct peer-to-peer communication between adjacent storage apparatuses.
2Ease of operation
If control devices are coupled over a network, then communication between control devices is enabled, but network traffic increases as system size increases, requiring high-bandwidth network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into individual transmission paths between adjacent storage apparatuses in a loop configuration. This segmentation localizes communication traffic to only the necessary adjacent connections, preventing traffic from traversing the entire network and reducing overall network traffic as system size increases.
3Productivity
If additional storage apparatuses are installed to expand system capacity, then storage capacity and access performance are improved, but communication load and network traffic increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic loop-form transmission path that automatically adapts as storage apparatuses are added or removed. The transmission path reconfigures itself to maintain optimal communication routes, ensuring that communication load is distributed evenly across all apparatuses regardless of system size, allowing scalable expansion without proportionally increasing communication burden.
Data Source
AI summary
A storage system includes storage apparatuses and a second transmission path. The storage apparatuses each include a control device, and memory devices coupled in series with the control device through a first transmission path having the control device at a beginning. The memory devices are accessed by the control device. The second transmission path couples the storage apparatuses in a loop to allow communications between the control devices. The second transmission path includes the first transmission paths included in the respective storage apparatuses. The second transmission path is formed such that an ending of the first transmission path included in a first storage apparatus of the storage apparatuses is connected to the beginning of the first transmission path included in a second storage apparatus subsequent to the first storage apparatus on the second transmission path.