Storage Management System for SSD Capacity Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

User devices with solid-state drives (SSDs) face storage space management challenges due to limited capacity compared to hard disk drives, leading to notification of low storage without providing users with efficient or organized options to free up space.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that automatically or manually deletes data, such as photos or other assets, to free up storage space by moving them to a remote storage system, with user-friendly interface options for manual deletion and optimization based on usage patterns and preferences.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If SSDs are used to provide storage for user devices, then device performance and reliability are improved, but storage capacity is reduced compared to HDDs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage reliabilityVSAvoidstorage capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a storage management system that acts as an intermediary between the user and the storage space. This system automatically monitors storage capacity, identifies deletable files based on user-defined criteria, and executes deletion operations without requiring direct user intervention in the cumbersome process of navigating through data to figure out what can be deleted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If users manually navigate through data to identify deletable files, then storage space can be freed, but user time and effort are significantly consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage space freedVSAvoiduser time for data management

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The storage management system enables self-service by automatically performing the task of identifying and deleting files that can be removed. The system uses user-defined criteria (such as file age, size, or type) to autonomously determine which files to delete, thereby freeing up storage space without requiring the user to manually navigate through data.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring storage capacity and identifying deletable files before the storage space is completely exhausted. This allows the system to take preventive action to free up space, rather than waiting for the user to manually intervene after running out of storage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If users are provided with no options when storage space is full, then system complexity is reduced, but user convenience and ability to manage storage are degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidstorage management ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The storage management system implements feedback by continuously monitoring storage capacity and providing users with notifications when storage space is running low. The system also provides feedback by presenting users with options to configure automatic deletion criteria, allowing users to manage storage according to their preferences without increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11531468B2System and method for managing storage space

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 APPLE INC

AI summary

Disclosed herein is a technique for managing storage space in a user device. Users are provided with options to manage storage space usage in an organized and efficient manner. The options can include recommendations to the user regarding automatically and/or manually purging data from the user device to free up a particular amount of storage space that is needed to carry out a particular task.