Movable Carriage Data Storage Coupling for Power and Security

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data storage systems face challenges in reducing power consumption and heat generation while maintaining efficient data access, as well as ensuring security and cost-effectiveness across different storage tiers, from 'glacial' to 'hot' storage.

Innovation Solution

A data storage system with a movable carriage that selectively couples to subsets of data storage devices, allowing for power-down of unused devices and incorporating a physical locking mechanism to enhance security, thereby reducing energy consumption and unauthorized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If all data storage devices are continuously coupled to the host device (hot storage), then data access speed is improved, but power consumption and heat generation increase enormously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata access speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the coupling state of data storage devices, transitioning between hot storage (continuously coupled) and cold storage (disconnected) states based on access requirements. The movable carriage enables this dynamic reconfiguration, allowing devices to be connected only when needed for data operations, thereby reducing continuous power consumption while maintaining fast access capability when required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic access patterns where data storage devices are coupled to the host device only during required operations and disconnected during idle periods. The movable carriage facilitates this periodic coupling and decoupling, enabling the system to achieve fast data access during active periods while minimizing power consumption during inactive periods, thus resolving the contradiction between continuous availability and energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

2Use of energy by moving object

If data storage devices are disconnected from the host device (cold storage), then power consumption is reduced, but data access time increases to tens of seconds or minutes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata access time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by positioning the movable carriage and preparing data storage devices for coupling in advance. When data access is required, the carriage is already positioned near the target devices, enabling rapid coupling and minimizing access time. This preliminary positioning allows the system to maintain low power consumption during cold storage while achieving fast access when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The movable carriage acts as an intermediary between the host device and data storage devices. It facilitates rapid connection and disconnection, enabling the system to transition quickly between cold and hot storage states. This intermediary mechanism reduces the access time penalty associated with cold storage by providing a streamlined coupling process, thus resolving the contradiction between power savings and access speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If a movable carriage is introduced to selectively couple data storage devices, then power consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The movable carriage is designed as a universal component that can couple with multiple different data storage devices and perform various operations. This multi-functionality consolidates the complexity into a single versatile mechanism rather than requiring individual coupling systems for each device, thereby managing system complexity while enabling selective coupling to reduce power consumption across the storage array.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Loss of energy

If selective coupling of data storage devices is implemented, then cooling costs are reduced, but security control complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooling energyVSAvoidsecurity control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by monitoring access requirements and system state to dynamically determine which data storage devices should be coupled to the host device. This feedback mechanism enables selective coupling based on actual needs, reducing cooling energy consumption for disconnected devices while maintaining straightforward security control through automated decision-making rather than complex manual security protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11570919B2Data storage system including movable carriage and physical locking mechanism

Publication Date: 2023.01.31 SEAGATE TECH LLC

AI summary

An apparatus with a housing which stores a plurality of data storage magazines where each data storage magazine includes a plurality of data storage devices. The housing includes a movable carriage configured to selectively couple a set of data storage devices held by a particular data storage magazine to a host device. The housing also includes a physical locking mechanism configured to selectively prevent data storage devices from coupling to the host device.