Storage Device Power Loss Management via Operation Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current storage devices fail to effectively manage power reductions, leading to data loss during power failures or disruptions, as they do not adequately differentiate between essential and non-essential operations, and lack efficient mechanisms to preserve data in volatile memory.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for power loss management in storage devices that terminate non-essential operations, utilize a secondary power source to execute essential operations within a power hold-up time, and store identifiers to track completed operations, ensuring data integrity during power disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the storage device continues all operations during power reduction, then operational productivity is maintained, but data loss occurs due to insufficient power for completing volatile memory operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments operations into essential and non-essential categories. Essential operations (data transfer to nonvolatile cache, metadata updates) are prioritized and completed using backup power, while non-essential operations (read operations, unacknowledged writes) are terminated. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by ensuring critical data integrity functions complete reliably during power reduction while accepting that non-critical operations may be interrupted.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device performs preliminary actions by transferring data to nonvolatile cache memory before power loss occurs. The system proactively moves data from volatile to nonvolatile storage during the power hold-up time, ensuring data is preserved even if power is completely lost. This preliminary action prevents data loss without requiring all operations to complete.
2Reliability
If the storage device uses backup power to complete all operations, then data integrity is improved, but energy consumption increases beyond available backup power capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by using backup power only for essential operations rather than attempting to complete all operations. The system performs sufficient action to preserve data integrity (transferring acknowledged data to nonvolatile cache) without exhausting available backup power capacity. This resolves the contradiction by matching power consumption to the minimum necessary for data preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device applies different quality levels to different operations during power reduction. Essential operations receive full power allocation from the backup source to ensure completion, while non-essential operations are terminated. This local differentiation of operational priority resolves the contradiction by concentrating limited power resources on data-critical functions only.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the storage device terminates non-essential operations during power loss, then energy consumption is reduced within backup power capacity, but operational productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts operation execution based on power availability conditions. During normal operation, all operations proceed at full throughput. During power reduction, the system dynamically terminates non-essential operations and prioritizes essential ones. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing productivity to vary according to power conditions while ensuring data integrity is maintained.
4Speed
If the storage device holds data in volatile memory for processing, then operational speed is improved, but data loss risk increases during power failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces nonvolatile cache memory as an intermediary between volatile memory and permanent storage. Data is transferred from volatile memory to nonvolatile cache during power hold-up time, serving as an intermediate preservation state. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by allowing fast volatile memory processing while providing a safety net through nonvolatile cache that prevents data loss if power is lost during processing.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution ensures that acknowledged data is stored in nonvolatile memory even during power interruptions, preventing data loss and corruption by prioritizing essential operations and conserving energy during power failures.
Implementation Method 1
a secondary power supply that supplies electric power to the nonvolatile data storage device for at least a power hold-up time during the power loss mode
Data Source
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AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for power loss management in a nonvolatile data storage device 102. A monitor module 510 initiates a power loss mode in the nonvolatile data storage device 102 in response to a primary power source 130 failing to supply electric power above a predefined threshold to the nonvolatile data storage device 102. A secondary power source 124 supplies electric power to the nonvolatile data storage device 102 for at least a power hold-up time during the power loss mode. A power loss module 520 adjusts execution of in-process operations on the nonvolatile data storage device 102 during the power loss mode so that essential in-process operations execute within the power hold-up time.