Displaying current location of components in a data storage system

• US 9,367,195 B1
• Filed: 12/30/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Emc IP Holding Company LLC (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Pendergraft, James O., Rabe, Bruce R., Joyce, Scott E.
• Primary Examiner(s): To, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Xia, Xuyang
• Application Number:
  US13/341,167
• Time in Patent Office: 1,628 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/00 Accessing, addressing or allocating within memory systems or architectures digital input from, or digital output to record carriers, e.g. to disk storage units, G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method is used in displaying current location of components in a data storage system. An image of data storage equipment having multiple components is received at a mobile device. The image is processed to automatically identify the multiple components. A current relative physical positioning of the identified components within the data storage system is determined. Based on the determined positioning, a graphical view of the components is provided wherein the graphical view indicates a current relative physical positioning of the components within the data storage system.

Claims

1. A method for use in displaying current location of components in a data storage system, the method comprising:

generating, at a mobile device, an image of data storage equipment having multiple data storage system components located in a storage system enclosure;

processing, on the mobile device, the image of data storage equipment to automatically identify individual components among the multiple data storage system components, wherein the individual components includes individual drives;

determining a current relative physical positioning information of the identified individual components within the data storage system enclosure;

storing the current relative physical positioning information of the identified individual components;

mapping the current relative physical positioning information of the identified individual components to corresponding logical components of the storage system;

based on the determination, generating and automatically displaying on the mobile device an updated graphical view the identified individual components wherein the graphical view indicates the current relative physical positioning of the individual components within the data storage system;

storing information associated with the graphical view in a management system associated with the data storage system;

comparing the determined current relative physical positioning to previously stored physical positioning information; and

based on the comparison, updating the stored component positioning information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a mobile device is used to display the graphical view.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising mapping logical identities of the components to physical positions of the components.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing information associated with the graphical view in a tabular format.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical view is a cabinet rack view.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the components comprise data storage devices.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating from the data storage system an identifiable signal to facilitate identification of the data storage system, wherein the identifiable signal is at least one LED located on the component.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile device transmits an activating signal to the data storage system.

9. A system for use in displaying current location of components in a data storage system, the system comprising a mobile device configured to:

generate, at the mobile device, an image of data storage equipment having multiple data storage system components located in a storage system enclosure;

process, on the mobile device, the image of data storage equipment to automatically identify individual components among the multiple data storage system components, wherein the individual components includes individual drives;

determine a current relative physical positioning information of the identified individual components within the data storage system enclosure and store the current relative physical positioning information of the identified individual components and map the current relative physical positioning information of the identified individual components to corresponding logical components of the storage system;

based on the determination, generate and automatically display on the mobile device an updated graphical view the identified individual data storage system components wherein the graphical view indicates the current relative physical positioning of the individual components within the data storage system;

store information associated with the graphical view in a management system associated with the data storage system;

compare the determined current relative physical positioning to previously stored physical positioning information; and

based on the comparison, updating the stored component positioning information.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a mobile device is used to display the graphical view.

11. The system of claim 9, further configured to map logical identities of the components to physical positions of the components.

12. The system of claim 9, further configured to store information associated with the graphical view in a tabular format.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the graphical view is a cabinet rack view.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the components comprise data storage devices.

15. The system of claim 9, further configured to activate from the data storage system an identifiable signal to facilitate identification of the data storage system, wherein the identifiable signal is at least one LED located on the component.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the mobile device transmits an activating signal to the data storage system.