Storage Path Diagnosis via Transceiver Variable Collection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In storage systems, cable failures due to degradation and signal quality deterioration can occur, making it challenging to perform path diagnosis without affecting system operation.

Innovation Solution

A diagnosis device with a processor and memory that collects data transmission variables from a transceiver device and performs diagnosis using diagnosis reference information, allowing for path diagnosis without disrupting system operation by identifying cable information and equalizer variables to determine the state of the data transmission path.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If path diagnosis is performed by interrupting system operation, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath diagnosis accuracyVSAvoidsystem operation continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting data transmission variables and performing path diagnosis during periods when the system is not actively transmitting data. The diagnosis reference information is prepared in advance, allowing the system to conduct thorough path diagnosis without interrupting normal operations when data transmission is required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If cable degradation is not monitored, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecable failure predictionVSAvoiddiagnosis system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The diagnosis system utilizes existing data transmission variables that are already present in the storage system during normal operations. Instead of adding separate monitoring hardware, the system serves itself by collecting variables such as equalizer settings and transmission quality metrics that are naturally generated during data transmission, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If data transmission variables are collected during operation, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvediagnosis during system operationVSAvoidpath state measurement accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring data transmission variables and comparing them against diagnosis reference information. The collected variables provide feedback about the current path state, allowing the system to maintain ease of operation by diagnosing during normal operations while improving measurement precision through iterative comparison and analysis of transmission quality metrics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10142169B2Diagnosis device, diagnosis method, and non-transitory recording medium storing diagnosis program

Publication Date: 2018.11.27 FUJITSU LTD

AI summary

A diagnosis device includes: a processor that executes a diagnosis program; and a memory that stores the diagnosis program, wherein the processor, based on the diagnosis program, performs operations to: collect a data transmission variable set by a data transmission path characteristics from a transceiver device on a diagnosis target path; and perform diagnosis for the diagnosis target path with reference to diagnosis reference information that includes a value of the data transmission variable and determination information associated with each other, based on collected data transmission variable.