Patent · US Active

Selective power management of disk drives during semi-idle time in order to save power and increase drive life span

US7516348B1 · kind B1 · utility

77Cited by
6References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 2006
Grant dateApr 7, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 19, 2027

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02D10/00
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Redundancy in storage arrays is used to extend the life of disk drives and conserve power. In an exemplary storage array, a group of storage devices includes y storage devices. Data and redundant information is distributed across the y devices to provide m levels of redundancy. “Spun down devices” are provided by spinning down a set of one or more of up to m of the y storage devices. Meanwhile, data transfers to and from the group of storage devices continue to be serviced. After a predetermined time, the currently spun down disks can be spun up, and new spun down devices are provided by spinning down another set of one or more of m of the y storage devices. An array may include several groups of storage devices, each having its own value for y and m.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.