Storage Device Fault Detection via Access Time Thresholds

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional storage device monitoring tools lack universality and openness, and often report faulty states too late, leading to degraded user experiences due to persistent system loads and delayed detection of performance degradation.

Innovation Solution

A method and electronic device that determine a storage device's potential faulty state by comparing the time length of access to a set of blocks with a threshold time length, allowing for real-time detection and isolation of faulty blocks, with the threshold adjusted based on statistical data and user input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional monitoring tools (S.M.A.R.T.) are used to monitor storage device failures, then early warning of impending failure can be provided, but the tools lack universality and openness due to vendor-specific attributes and representations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure detection capabilityVSAvoiduniversality of monitoring tool

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal monitoring mechanism that operates independently of vendor-specific tools by directly measuring access time lengths through the operating system's file system layer. This approach allows the same monitoring logic to work across different storage devices and vendors without requiring vendor-specific attributes or configurations, thereby achieving multi-functionality and universality in storage device monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional monitoring tools are persistently running to monitor storage device state, then continuous monitoring can be achieved, but system loads are significantly increased

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontinuous monitoring capabilityVSAvoidsystem load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuously monitoring storage device state, the patent uses periodic monitoring by measuring access time lengths during normal file system operations. The monitoring is triggered by actual access requests rather than continuous polling, which reduces system load while still providing timely detection of performance degradation when it occurs during actual use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If conventional monitoring tools report bad health state, then failure warning is provided, but the storage device has already been in faulty state for a period of time, degrading user experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailure warningVSAvoiddetection delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary detection of storage device performance degradation by measuring access time lengths during normal operations before the device fully fails. By continuously tracking access time metrics and comparing against thresholds, the system can identify and alert users to potential issues early in the degradation process, allowing preventive actions to be taken before significant performance loss occurs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11977434B2Determination of faulty state of storage device

Publication Date: 2024.05.07 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

Disclosed are a method and electronic device for determining a faulty state of a storage device. A first time length of a first access to a set of blocks of a storage device is determined. Then, the first time length of the access and a threshold time length are compared. If the first time length exceeds the threshold time length, it is determined that the blocks are in a potential faulty state.