Sensor-Triggered SSD Backup Through a Separate Emergency Port

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data storage devices, such as SSDs in autonomous driving systems, lack effective methods for securely and efficiently backing up data during emergency situations like fire or flooding, risking data loss due to environmental changes beyond a reference range.

Innovation Solution

A data backup method that utilizes environmental sensors to detect emergency conditions, generating event detection signals to immediately backup critical data from SSDs to external devices through separate ports, ensuring data preservation even when internal storage is compromised.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data is stored in SSD using first port for normal operations, then data access speed and storage efficiency are improved, but data security during emergency situations deteriorates because the same port may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access speedVSAvoiddata security during emergency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data storage and access system into two separate ports: a first port for normal data operations and a second port for emergency backup operations. This segmentation ensures that the emergency backup function is independent from the normal storage function, so that even if the first port or its associated circuitry is damaged during an emergency, the second port remains available to save critical data to external storage media.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a backup logic circuit as an intermediary component that monitors environmental sensors and controls the emergency backup operation. When an emergency situation is detected, the backup logic circuit activates the second port to transfer data from the first port to external storage, serving as a mediator that enables safe data evacuation without requiring manual intervention or compromising the integrity of the primary storage system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If environmental sensors are added to detect emergency conditions, then data backup reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata backup reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The backup logic circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: it monitors environmental sensors for emergency conditions, manages the emergency backup operation, and controls the second port for data transfer. By making the backup logic circuit multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while still achieving reliable automated backup when environmental conditions indicate an emergency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If separate second port is used for emergency backup, then data security is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional hardware

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata securityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the communication interface into two distinct ports: a first port for normal data operations and a second port for emergency backup operations. This physical segmentation ensures that the emergency backup function has its own dedicated communication channel that is independent from the primary storage interface, providing enhanced security and reliability during emergencies while maintaining a relatively simple overall device architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4369202A1Data backup method of storage device using sensor information, and storage device performing the same
Publication Date: 2024.05.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP4369202A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4369202A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4369202A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a data backup method of a storage device, environment information is received from at least one environmental sensor such that an operating environment in which the storage device is operating is monitored. An event detection signal is generated based on the environment information. In response to generating the event detection signal at least first data is immediately backed up to an external device located outside the storage device. The storage device includes a first port configured to be used to store the plurality of data in the storage device, and a second port different from the first port. In response to generating the event detection signal, the at least first data among the plurality of data are immediately output from the storage device through the second port.