System and Method for Monitoring Parameters at a Data Storage Device

• US 20170102878A1
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Mundt, Kevin W., Farkas, Sandor
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1004 to protect a block of data words, e.g. CRC or checksum G06F11/1076 takes precedence; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorized activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0653 Monitoring storage devices or systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0673 Single storage device

Abstract

An operational parameter is accessed at a data storage device. The operational parameter is encoded using a serial data protocol. The encoded operational parameter is superimposed on an activity indicator signal outputted by the data storage device. The activity indicator signal is configured to be coupled to a light emitting diode.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

a data storage medium;

a drive interface including a terminal for outputting an activity indicator signal; and

a drive controller coupled to the data storage medium and to the drive interface, the drive controller to;

access an operational parameter at the device;

encode the operational parameter using a serial data protocol; and

superimpose the encoded operational parameter on the activity indicator signal.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a temperature sensor;

and wherein the operational parameter is a temperature provided by the temperature sensor.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive controller is further to:

generate an error detection code based on the operational parameter; and

encode the error detection code with the operational parameter.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the activity indicator signal is operable to be coupled to a light emitting diode, illumination of the diode to indicate an activity at the data storage device.

5. The device of claim 1, where in the encoded operational parameter is superimposed on the activity indicator signal when the signal is either at a logic-high state or at a logic-low state.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive controller is further to:

identify a oscillatory period of the activity indicator signal;

generate a random number corresponding to a fraction of the oscillatory period; and

superimpose the encoded operational parameter on the activity indicator signal based on the random number.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the drive controller is further to:

identify a oscillatory period of the activity indicator signal;

generate a random number corresponding to a number of oscillatory periods; and

superimpose the encoded operational parameter only at selected oscillatory periods of the activity indicator signal based on the random number.

8. A method comprising:

accessing an operational parameter at a data storage device;

encoding the operational parameter using a serial data protocol to generate an encoded operational parameter; and

superimposing the encoded operational parameter on an activity indicator signal outputted by the data storage device, the activity indicator signal configured to be coupled to a light emitting diode, illumination of the diode is to indicate an activity at the device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the operational parameter is a temperature provided by a temperature sensor included in the data storage device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

generating an error detection code based on the operational parameter; and

encoding the error detection code with the operational parameter.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the encoded operational parameter is superimposed on the activity indicator signal when the activity indicator signal is either at a logic-high state or at a logic-low state.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

superimposing the encoded operational parameter on the activity indicator signal at a time determined based on a random number provided by a random number generator.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a first activity indicator signal from a first data storage device, the first activity indicator signal configured to illuminate a light emitting diode to indicate an activity at the first data storage device, the first activity indicator signal including a first encoded operational parameter encoded using a serial data protocol; and

decoding the first encoded operational parameter to retrieve a first operational parameter corresponding to the first data storage device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first operational parameter is a temperature at the first data storage device.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first operational parameter is self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology status information.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

identifying an error detection value included with the first encoded operational parameter; and

validating the first operational parameter based on the error detection value.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing the first operational parameter to a service processor at an information handling system.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first activity indicator signal further includes an encoded hardware identifier, the encoded hardware identifier decodable to provide a hardware identifier uniquely identifying the first data storage device.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a second activity indicator signal from a second data storage device, the second activity indicator signal including a second encoded operational parameter encoded using the serial data protocol; and

generating a combined signal based on an exclusive-OR function of the first activity indicator signal and the second activity indicator signal; and

decoding the first encoded operational parameter and the second encoded operational parameter superimposed on the combined signal to retrieve a first operational parameter corresponding to the first data storage device and a second operational parameter corresponding to the second data storage device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first data storage device and the second data storage device are included in a first thermal zone, the method further comprising:

regulating a cooling system corresponding to the first thermal zone based on a selected one of the first operational parameter and the second operational parameter.