Storage Unit Segmentation for Data Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data storage equipment lacks reliable protection methods, leading to potential data loss or errors, and existing solutions require special software and hardware combinations that are costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that writes data into a primary storage space and protection data into a secondary space, using a data conversion mode to ensure data integrity, with recovery data determined by comparing data from both spaces, allowing for efficient data protection without requiring special software or hardware support.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional storage methods are used, then storage simplicity is maintained, but data reliability deteriorates due to potential data loss or errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoidstorage system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is segmented into two distinct units: a storage unit for primary data and a protection unit for protection data. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data reliability through distributed storage while keeping each unit's function simple and well-defined, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a copy of protection data in the protection unit based on data written to the storage unit. This copying mechanism ensures data reliability through redundancy while maintaining storage simplicity, as the protection data is generated algorithmically rather than requiring complex hardware redundancy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If special drive and application software are used for data protection, then data reliability is improved, but system operating efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protection reliabilityVSAvoidsystem operating efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage equipment performs data protection operations autonomously without requiring external software intervention. The control unit automatically generates protection data, manages storage operations, and handles data recovery, eliminating the need for special application software and improving system operating efficiency while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex software-based protection mechanisms with a hardware-level solution where the control unit directly manages protection data generation and storage. This substitution of software control with integrated hardware control eliminates software overhead and improves system operating efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If protection data is stored in a separate protection unit, then data protection capability is improved, but storage system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protection capabilityVSAvoidstorage system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage system is segmented into two distinct units: a storage unit for primary data and a protection unit for protection data. This segmentation allows the system to maintain data reliability through distributed storage while keeping each unit's function simple and well-defined, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protection unit serves multiple functions: storing protection data, enabling data recovery, and providing verification capability. This multi-functionality consolidates several protection mechanisms into a single unit, improving data protection capability without proportionally increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2960777B1Data protection method, apparatus and device
Publication Date: 2020.01.01 ZTE CORP
  • EP2960777B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3A
  • EP2960777B1 patent drawingFigure 3B~4
  • EP2960777B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A method and device of data protection and a storage equipment. The method includes: when receiving from a host a writing command, carrying an address and data to be stored, writing the data to be stored into a first storage space, which corresponds to the address, in a storage unit, and writing protection data corresponding to the data to be stored into a second storage space, which corresponds to the address, in a protection unit; when receiving from the host a reading command, carrying the address, determining recovery data according to the data stored in the first storage space and the data stored in the second storage space; and taking the recovery data as response data for the reading command. The method achieves efficient data protection of a storage equipment.