Storage Device Register Access for Signal Integrity Measurement

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Solution Overview

Problem

In storage communication environments, obtaining statistical information and measuring signal integrity between devices and a computing platform is cumbersome and costly due to the need for additional hardware, special cabling, and external signal integrity measurements, which can be inaccurate and tedious with increasing numbers of devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that uses commands generated by an application on the computing platform to access physical registers of devices through existing communication links, allowing for the collection of statistical information and measurement of signal integrity without additional hardware, by utilizing existing storage hardware and communication protocols to interpret and adjust settings for performance data collection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If additional hardware is used to collect statistical information, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal integrity measurement accuracyVSAvoidhardware infrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device performs self-diagnosis and self-monitoring by accessing its own physical registers through the existing SAS communication interface. The device collects statistical information about signal integrity, errors, and performance metrics without requiring external measurement equipment, thereby eliminating the need for additional hardware while maintaining measurement accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces physical/mechanical measurement systems (external hardware connectors, special cabling, translation hubs, and external computers for eye pattern collection) with a software-based approach. The application executes commands through the SAS interface to read physical registers, substituting mechanical measurement infrastructure with digital command-and-data exchange over the existing communication link.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If additional hardware components are provisioned, then statistical information collection capability is improved, but loss of energy and space occupation increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatistical information collection capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption of additional components

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The existing SAS communication interface and host bus adapter are made multi-functional by enabling them to not only transmit storage commands but also to collect statistical information and perform signal integrity measurements. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated measurement hardware, thereby reducing overall energy consumption in the storage environment while maintaining enhanced collection capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Measurement precision

If external hardware is used for signal integrity measurements, then measurement capability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesignal integrity measurement capabilityVSAvoidmeasurement collection simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the statistical information collection function with the existing storage communication protocol. By integrating the measurement capability into the SAS interface and host bus adapter, the system combines data collection operations with normal storage transactions, eliminating the need for separate measurement procedures and external equipment, thereby significantly simplifying operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Quantity of substance

If more devices are added to storage communication, then storage capacity is improved, but device complexity and measurement difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of storage devicesVSAvoidinfrastructure components per device

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each storage device independently collects its own statistical information through its physical registers via the existing SAS interface. This self-service approach allows multiple devices to be monitored simultaneously without requiring additional infrastructure components for each device, as the same communication interface and application-level commands work for all devices in the storage environment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8713203B2Statistical information collection from one or more device(s) in storage communication with a computing platform

Publication Date: 2014.04.29 AVAGO TECHNOLOGIES INTERNATIONAL SALES PTE LTD

AI summary

A method includes addressing, through a command generated by an application executing on a computing platform, one or more device(s) in storage communication with the computing platform based on an appropriate communication link. The method also includes accessing, based on the addressing, a physical register of the one or more device(s) through an appropriate interface therein. Further, the method includes obtaining statistical information associated with a performance of the one or more device(s) at the computing platform through the access of the physical register.