SSD Data Refresh Before Power Loss for Retention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data loss in storage devices, particularly solid state storage devices, occurs when power is unavailable due to the finite duration data can be stored without power, leading to potential inaccessibility of information.

Innovation Solution

Implementing expedited data refresh procedures before power loss by migrating data between cells in solid state storage devices, prioritizing these refreshes over other commands to ensure data retention during power outages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If data is stored in solid state storage devices without continuous power, then power consumption is reduced, but data loss occurs after finite duration without power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoiddata retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs data refresh operations before the storage device is depowered. The manager identifies when power will be unavailable and issues expedited refresh commands to migrate data from volatile memory to non-volatile storage before power loss occurs, ensuring data is preserved without requiring continuous power consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The storage device autonomously monitors its own power state and data retention status. The manager component detects power availability changes and automatically initiates data migration procedures without external intervention, allowing the system to self-manage data preservation during power transitions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If expedited data refresh commands are issued before power loss, then data retention is improved, but storage device productivity decreases due to prioritized refresh operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retentionVSAvoidstorage device throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device dynamically adjusts command prioritization based on power state predictions. When power loss is anticipated, refresh commands are temporarily elevated in priority. When power is stable, normal command processing resumes, allowing the system to adapt productivity allocation to actual data preservation needs rather than maintaining fixed priorities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If continuous data refresh is performed, then data retention during power loss is maximized, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata retention durationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous refresh operations, the system implements periodic data migration triggered by power state changes. Data is refreshed at specific intervals or when power loss is predicted, rather than continuously, reducing energy consumption while maintaining data retention through strategically timed refresh cycles

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12405732B1Unpower data retention for solid state drives

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Methods and systems for storing data are disclosed. Data may be stored in persistent storage of storage devices. When a storage device is likely to become depowered, an expedited data refresh procedure may be performed. The expedited refresh procedures may improve the likelihood that the data is able to be retrieved from the persistent storage after the storage device is repowered. The expedite refresh procedures may be prioritized to complete the procedures prior to the storage devices being depowered.