Slave Storage Collision Detection via Line Level Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices on shared buses face data corruption due to collisions, which existing technologies fail to effectively detect and prevent without specialized hardware.

Innovation Solution

A method where a controller transmits a bit on a data line and determines the line level to detect collisions by comparing it to an expected level, allowing devices without specialized hardware to identify and prevent further communication until a next start condition, enabling multiple devices to operate on a single shared bus while maintaining data integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple storage devices transmit data simultaneously on a shared bus, then data transmission speed increases, but data corruption occurs due to collisions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission speedVSAvoiddata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The slave device monitors the data line for collisions by comparing the transmitted bit level with the actual line level, creating a feedback mechanism that detects when another device is transmitting simultaneously, allowing the system to prevent data corruption through real-time collision detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If specialized hardware arbitration schemes are implemented to prevent collisions, then data integrity is maintained, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The slave device performs its own collision detection by monitoring the data line itself rather than relying on external arbitration hardware, enabling the device to self-protect against data corruption using simple level comparison logic instead of complex specialized hardware

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces specialized hardware arbitration schemes with a software-based or logic-based collision detection method that uses simple bit level comparison, substituting complex mechanical/hardware systems with simpler electronic monitoring and processing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Device complexity

If collision detection is implemented without specialized hardware, then device complexity is reduced, but collision detection capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehardware complexityVSAvoidcollision detection capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The data line serves multiple functions: it carries data bits during normal transmission and simultaneously serves as a collision detection medium by allowing the slave device to monitor line levels, eliminating the need for separate specialized detection hardware while maintaining full collision detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10761923B2Collision detection for slave storage devices

Publication Date: 2020.09.01 WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC

AI summary

A method includes transmitting, by a controller of a storage device, a first bit on a data line. The method further includes responsive to transmitting the first bit on the data line, determining, by the controller, a line level of the data line. The method further includes responsive to determining the line level of the data line, determining, by the controller, whether the line level of the data line corresponds to the first bit and responsive to determining that the line level of the data line does not correspond to the first bit, determining, by the controller, that a collision has occurred on the data line.