Autonomous Storage Device Temperature Notification Mechanism

Solution Overview

Problem

Current thermal management systems in server computing platforms face performance degradation due to periodic polling of storage devices for temperature information, leading to increased I/O latency and reduced system performance, especially in high-performance systems.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an asynchronous notification mechanism in information storage devices to autonomously monitor and report temperature changes, allowing for real-time thermal feedback without the need for frequent polling, using a mode page to configure reporting criteria and logical relationships.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If periodic polling is used to monitor storage device temperature, then thermal management is achieved, but system performance degrades due to increased I/O latency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature monitoringVSAvoidI/O latency

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device autonomously monitors its own temperature and generates interrupt requests when temperature thresholds are exceeded, eliminating the need for the storage controller to continuously poll the device. This self-service approach allows temperature monitoring to occur without impacting I/O performance, as the device independently manages its thermal state reporting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where the storage device monitors its temperature and automatically generates interrupt requests to the storage controller when temperature thresholds are exceeded. This feedback loop enables real-time thermal management without continuous polling, allowing the system to respond to temperature changes only when necessary, thus avoiding I/O latency penalties.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If frequent temperature polling is implemented, then more current temperature information is obtained, but system performance is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature information currencyVSAvoidsystem performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device autonomously monitors its own temperature and generates interrupt requests when temperature thresholds are exceeded, eliminating the need for the storage controller to continuously poll the device. This self-service approach allows temperature monitoring to occur without impacting I/O performance, as the device independently manages its thermal state reporting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of continuous periodic polling, the system uses event-driven periodic action where temperature monitoring occurs continuously in the background, but interrupt requests are generated only when temperature thresholds are exceeded. This approach maintains current temperature information while avoiding the performance penalty of frequent polling cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Temperature

If the storage controller polls all attached storage devices for temperature values, then thermal management is maintained, but storage controller performance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetemperature monitoringVSAvoidstorage controller performance

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage device autonomously monitors its own temperature and generates interrupt requests when temperature thresholds are exceeded, eliminating the need for the storage controller to continuously poll the device. This self-service approach allows temperature monitoring to occur without impacting I/O performance, as the device independently manages its thermal state reporting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS8996751B2Autonomously initiated information storage device parameter change notification

Publication Date: 2015.03.31 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An information handling system includes a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, and an information storage device coupled to the processor via an input/output (I/O) bus for communicating I/O data between the processor and the information storage device. The device further receives a specification of reporting criteria for information storage device parameters.