Storage Firmware Update Path Using BMC Out-of-Band Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage devices face inefficiencies in firmware updates due to the reliance on in-band channels, which can cause performance degradation and require separate scheduling, and there is a need for independent management capabilities beyond the operating system.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an out-of-band channel using a Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) for firmware updates, allowing independent communication with the storage device, separate from the host device's operating system, and utilizing an auxiliary voltage to enable updates even during power-off states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If firmware updates are performed through in-band channels, then the storage device can be controlled by the host operating system, but it causes performance degradation and requires separate scheduling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefirmware update capabilityVSAvoidstorage operation performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the control channels into in-band and out-of-band paths. The in-band channel handles storage operations while the out-of-band channel handles firmware updates, allowing parallel independent operations without interference, thus resolving the performance degradation issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The Baseboard Management Controller (BMC) acts as an intermediary for out-of-band communication, enabling firmware updates to be performed independently of the host operating system through a separate management path, eliminating the need for separate scheduling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Use of energy by moving object

If the storage device is powered off to save energy, then power consumption is reduced, but firmware updates cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfirmware update capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables preliminary firmware updates to be initiated through the out-of-band channel before the storage device is fully powered on or during low-power states, allowing maintenance operations to be prepared in advance without requiring the device to be fully operational

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The BMC serves as an intermediary that can communicate with the storage device even in power-off or low-power states through the out-of-band channel, enabling firmware updates to proceed without requiring the storage device to be fully powered on, thus maintaining energy efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4521236B1Storage device and host device

Publication Date: 2026.04.15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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AI summary

A storage device comprises a first non-volatile memory, a storage controller configured to receive a memory command for writing data in the first non-volatile memory or reading the data from the first non-volatile memory from a processor of a host device through a first channel, a microcontroller configured to receive a command related to a firmware update executed in the storage device from a baseboard management controller (BMC) of the host device through a second channel different from the first channel, and a second non-volatile memory configured to receive and store firmware data from the BMC of the host device.