| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080201616 | REDUNDANT STORAGE CONTROLLER SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED FAILURE ANALYSIS CAPABILITY - A redundant storage controller system that robustly provides failure analysis information (FAI) to an operator of the system is disclosed. The system includes first and second storage controllers in communication with one another, such as via a PCI-Express link. When one of the controllers fails, the FAI is transferred from the failed controller to the surviving controller over the link. The operator issues a command to the surviving storage controller, which responsively provides the FAI. In one embodiment, the failed storage controller writes the FAI to the second storage controller. In one embodiment, each storage controller periodically writes the FAI before there is a failure. In one embodiment, the second storage controller reads the FAI from the failed storage controller. The FAI may include boot logs, crash logs, debug logs, and event logs. The FAI may also be written to a disk drive connected to the controllers. | 08-21-2008 |
| 20080215808 | RAID CONTROLLER USING CAPACITOR ENERGY SOURCE TO FLUSH VOLATILE CACHE DATA TO NON-VOLATILE MEMORY DURING MAIN POWER OUTAGE - A write-caching RAID controller includes a CPU that manages transfers of posted-write data from host computers to a volatile memory and transfers of the posted-write data from the volatile memory to a redundant array of storage devices when a main power source is supplying power to the RAID controller. A memory controller transfers the posted-write data received from the host computers to the volatile memory and transfers the posted-write data from the volatile memory for transfer to the redundant array of storage devices as managed by the CPU. The memory controller flushes the posted-write data from the volatile memory to the non-volatile memory when main power fails, during which time capacitors provide power to the memory controller, volatile memory, and non-volatile memory, but not to the CPU, in order to reduce the energy storage requirements of the capacitors. During main power provision, the CPU programs the memory controller with information needed to perform the flush operation, such as the location and size of the posted-write data in the volatile memory and various flush operation characteristics. | 09-04-2008 |
| 20080282030 | DYNAMIC INPUT/OUTPUT OPTIMIZATION WITHIN A STORAGE CONTROLLER - A system and method for optimizing accesses to storage devices based on RAID I/O request characteristics is disclosed. A current I/O request processed by a storage controller is analyzed for relative locality to a previous I/O request, and adjusted over time such that storage device accesses will be efficiently conducted with respect to sequential or random workloads. A storage device access profile is maintained for each storage device based on sequential or random locality characteristics of previous RAID I/O requests. The chunk locations of the two most recent accesses are sampled according to predetermined criteria in order to create a storage device access profile, which governs queue depth and I/O size parameters used to communicate with storage devices. By managing I/O requests to storage devices using this invention, performance of such a storage controller will be optimized for changing random and sequential workloads. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20100321818 | METHOD AND APPARATUS UTILIZING SHOCK SENSORS ON STORAGE DEVICES - A data storage system with a controller that receives shock data from a shock detection sensor and methods utilizing such a controller are provided. The data storage system controller receives information or signals regarding shock events from a shock sensor, enabling the data storage system controller to take remedial action. The particular remedial action taken may be dependent on the severity of the detected shock event. The data storage system controller may receive information regarding shock events from shock sensors provided separately from the data storage system controller, allowing the data storage system controller to take remedial action that is tailored to the locale of a shock event. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100322053 | CONTROLLER BASED SHOCK DETECTION FOR STORAGE SYSTEMS - A data storage system controller having a shock detection sensor and methods utilizing such a controller are provided. The data storage system controller receives information or signals regarding shock events from the associated shock sensor, enabling the data storage system controller to take remedial action. The particular remedial action taken may be dependent on the severity of the detected shock event. The data storage system controller may also receive information regarding shock events from shock sensors provided separately from the data storage system controller, allowing the data storage system controller to take remedial action that is tailored to the locale of a shock event. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20110083445 | Portable medical container with active temperature control - A temperature-controlled portable container for carrying an injector is provided. The temperature-controlled portable container includes an outer container and an inner container disposed within the outer container. The injector is stored within the inner container, and the inner container is constructed of a thermally conductive material. The temperature-controlled portable container also includes a temperature control device, which maintains an inner container temperature above a first predetermined temperature and below a second predetermined temperature, where the second predetermined temperature is higher than the first predetermined temperature. The temperature-controlled portable container also includes a processor subsystem and a portable power source. The portable power source is coupled to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem, and provides power to the temperature control device and the processor subsystem. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110084659 | Mobile cart docking and communication system - A power and communication system for a mobile cart is provided. The system includes a wall unit, which includes a processor and a power circuit. The power circuit receives external power and provides switched AC power to the cart unit when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit and the processor enables the power circuit. The system also includes a cart unit. The cart unit includes a memory device storing a signature. The memory device is coupled to the processor when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit. The processor detects continuity when the wall unit is engaged with the cart unit, and in response, the processor reads the signature. The processor enables the power circuit if the signature is a valid signature, and disables the power circuit if the signature is invalid. The switched AC power recharges a rechargeable power source of the mobile cart. | 04-14-2011 |
