Protocol Parameter Resend for Storage Analyzer Decoding

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Solution Overview

Problem

In storage device systems, analyzers struggle to decode data transfers between host devices and storage devices due to the lack of initial protocol parameters being intercepted, leading to inefficiencies and errors, especially when connected after initialization, causing delays in troubleshooting and resolution.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where the host device or storage device periodically resends the protocol parameters after initialization, allowing the analyzer to intercept and decode subsequent data transfers by including them in data packets with specific features, such as memory addresses and header formats, and resend based on threshold values like data volume, time, or command counts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protocol parameters are only sent during initialization, then device complexity is reduced, but the analyzer cannot decode data transfers when connected after initialization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyzer decoding capabilityVSAvoidparameter transmission mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The host device periodically re-sends protocol parameters to the storage device at predetermined intervals during data transfer operations. This periodic re-transmission ensures that analyzers connected at any time can intercept and decode the parameters, resolving the contradiction between maintaining simple initialization-only parameter sending and enabling continuous analyzer decoding capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The host device sends protocol parameters to the storage device before actual data transfer operations begin. By preliminarily establishing the parameter exchange mechanism during initialization and before data transfers, the system ensures that parameters are available for analyzer decoding without requiring complex real-time parameter generation during data transfers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If protocol parameters are resent continuously, then analyzer decoding is always possible, but bandwidth is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyzer parameter availabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous parameter re-transmission, the host device sends parameters periodically at predetermined intervals or triggered by specific events such as threshold-based data transfer volumes or command counts. This periodic approach maintains parameter availability for analyzers while significantly reducing unnecessary bandwidth consumption compared to continuous re-transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs threshold-based feedback mechanisms where the host device monitors data transfer volumes or command counts and only re-sends protocol parameters when predetermined thresholds are met. This feedback-controlled approach ensures parameters are available when needed for analyzer decoding while avoiding wasteful re-transmissions during normal operation, thus balancing reliability with bandwidth efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If analyzers are connected after initialization, then system setup is simpler, but protocol parameters are no longer available for decoding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveanalyzer connection flexibilityVSAvoidprotocol parameters

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The host device periodically re-sends protocol parameters during data transfer operations, ensuring that analyzers connected after initialization can still intercept and decode the parameters. This periodic re-transmission eliminates the requirement for analyzers to be connected before initialization while maintaining parameter availability, thus resolving the contradiction between connection flexibility and parameter availability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The protocol parameter re-transmission mechanism operates continuously during data transfer operations, ensuring that parameters are always available in the data stream for analyzer decoding. This continuous availability eliminates the information loss that would occur with single-time initialization-only parameter sending, while allowing analyzers to be connected at any point in the operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS11003614B2Embedding protocol parameters in data streams between host devices and storage devices

Publication Date: 2021.05.11 WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A method includes receiving, by a storage device and from a host device, a set of protocol parameters initialized by the host device. The set of protocol parameters are used to facilitate data transfer between the host device and the storage device. The method also includes determining that a threshold value associated with the data transfer between the host device and the storage device has been satisfied. The method further includes, in response to determining that the threshold value has been satisfied, sending, by the storage device and to the host device, the set of protocol parameters that were received from the host device.