Storage Drive Password Management During Low Power State Transitions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Computer systems face inefficiencies when transitioning from a low power state to a wake state due to storage drives entering a locked state from excessive incorrect password attempts, requiring manual power cycling and compromising quick state transitions.

Innovation Solution

A system and method where passwords for password-protected storage drives are saved to non-volatile memory during initialization, allowing retrieval and application during state transitions, preventing incorrect password attempts and enabling quick unlocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the computer system transitions from sleep state to wake state with password-protected storage drives, then the system can quickly resume operation, but the storage drives may enter locked state due to incorrect password attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestate transition speedVSAvoidstorage drive accessibility

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary password authentication during the sleep state transition process, before the storage drives can enter locked state. The BIOS retrieves stored password information and automatically authenticates with the storage drives during the wake-up sequence, preventing the drives from entering locked state due to timeout or incorrect attempts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If manual password entry is required during state transition, then security is maintained, but the transition time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidtransition time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service password authentication by storing password information in non-volatile memory and automatically retrieving and applying these passwords during state transitions. The BIOS autonomously handles the password authentication process without requiring user intervention, thereby maintaining security while eliminating the time loss associated with manual password entry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If power cycling is performed to unlock storage drives, then the drives become accessible, but the quick transition advantage is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrive accessibilityVSAvoidtransition speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical power cycling operation with a software-based password authentication mechanism. Instead of cutting power to unlock the storage drives, the BIOS uses stored password information to automatically authenticate and unlock the drives through software commands, thereby maintaining drive accessibility while preserving the quick transition capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS7685634B2System and method for managing access to a storage drive in a computer system

Publication Date: 2010.03.23 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

A system and method for unlocking storage drives during the transition from a low power state to an operational state in a computer system is disclosed. During initiation of the computer system, a password for each password-protected storage drive is saved to a memory location in the computer system. During the transition from a low power state to an operational power state, the password associated with each password-protected device is retrieved from the memory location on the basis of the unique identifier associated with each storage drive and applied to the storage drive for the purpose of unlocking or making the storage drive accessible.