Mobile Image Analysis for Data Storage Component Location
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In complex data storage systems, tracking the physical location of components within large racks is challenging, especially when reconfiguration or maintenance is needed, as existing system management software lacks the ability to accurately identify the physical position of components in crowded environments.
Innovation Solution
A method using a mobile device to capture images of data storage equipment, automatically identify components, and provide a graphical view of their relative physical positioning, enabling quick location of components through a processed image that reflects their actual layout.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If manual tracking methods are used to monitor component locations in data storage systems, then system management software can be kept simple, but the time and effort required to locate components increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a visual copy (image) of the physical rack environment and processes it to generate a graphical representation showing component locations. This visual copy allows operators to quickly locate components without physically searching through crowded racks, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining manageable system complexity through image processing rather than complex tracking infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an image processing system as an intermediary between the physical rack environment and the operator. Instead of directly tracking component positions through complex sensors and databases, the system captures images of the rack, processes them to identify components and their positions, and presents this information graphically. This intermediary approach simplifies the overall system while providing efficient location tracking.
2Measurement precision
If detailed tracking of all component positions is implemented, then component location accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the management system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a visual copy of the rack environment through imaging and processes this copy to extract component location information. This approach achieves accurate location tracking by analyzing the visual representation rather than implementing complex physical tracking infrastructure, thereby maintaining measurement precision while controlling system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic tracking systems with an optical/image processing-based system. Instead of using sensors, encoders, or database tracking to monitor component positions, the system captures images of the rack and uses image processing to determine component locations. This substitution achieves accurate tracking with simpler system architecture.
3Productivity
If visual identification methods are used to locate components, then the time required to identify component positions is reduced, but the system requires additional image processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a visual copy of the rack environment and processes this copy to enable quick component identification. By working with the image copy rather than the physical environment directly, the system achieves fast component identification while consolidating the processing requirements into a centralized image analysis function rather than distributed complex hardware.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing system serves multiple functions: it captures the rack environment, identifies components, determines their positions, and generates graphical representations for display. This multi-functional approach achieves high productivity in component identification while avoiding the need for separate specialized systems for each function, thereby controlling overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is used in displaying current location of components in a data storage system. An image of data storage equipment having multiple components is received at a mobile device. The image is processed to automatically identify the multiple components. A current relative physical positioning of the identified components within the data storage system is determined. Based on the determined positioning, a graphical view of the components is provided wherein the graphical view indicates a current relative physical positioning of the components within the data storage system.