Detecting an abnormal event while data storage equipment is in transit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11836352-B2
Application number	US-201916522974-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 26, 2019
Priority date	Jul 26, 2019
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

Techniques are directed to detecting an abnormal event while data storage equipment is in transit. Such techniques involve receiving a series of sensor signals from a set of sensors affixed to the data storage equipment. The series of sensor signals identifies a series of positional integrity measurements for the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit. Such techniques further involve performing a series of comparison operations that compares the series of positional integrity measurements to a set of range. Such techniques further involve, based on the series of comparison operations, providing an abnormal event signal in response to a particular positional integrity measurement falling outside a corresponding range of the set of ranges.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of detecting an abnormal event while data storage equipment is in transit, the method comprising:
receiving a series of sensor signals from a set of sensors affixed to the data storage equipment, the series of sensor signals identifying a series of positional integrity measurements for the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is provided as unpowered cargo in transit, the set of sensors being powered regardless of whether the data storage equipment is turned on or turned off;
performing a series of comparison operations that compares the series of positional integrity measurements to a set of ranges; and
based on the series of comparison operations, providing an abnormal event signal in response to a particular positional integrity measurement falling outside a corresponding range of the set of ranges;
wherein the set of sensors includes multiple motion sensing circuits;
wherein the data storage equipment includes storage processing circuitry and a set of storage devices;
wherein receiving the series of sensor signals from the set of sensors affixed to the data storage equipment includes:
acquiring multiple motion signals from the multiple motion sensing circuits while the data storage equipment is turned off;
wherein the storage processing circuitry of the data storage equipment includes a processor configured to communicate with the set of data storage devices to perform data storage operations on behalf of a set of host computers when the data storage equipment is turned on;
wherein the data storage equipment includes a battery backup power source that is configured to provide battery backup power to the data storage equipment to enable the data storage equipment to perform data storage operations during loss of primary power from a primary power source;
wherein the multiple motion sensing circuits reside within an apparatus that is attached to the data storage equipment;
wherein acquiring the multiple motion signals from the multiple motion sensing circuits includes:
obtaining the multiple motion signals in response to the apparatus consuming battery backup power from the backup power source of the data storage equipment;
wherein the apparatus further includes an event log;
wherein providing the abnormal event signal includes:
storing an abnormal event entry in the event log of the apparatus, the abnormal event entry identifying the particular positional integrity measurement, a time for the particular positional integrity measurement, and a geolocation for the particular positional integrity measurement;
wherein the apparatus further includes a wireless communications interface; and
wherein providing the abnormal event signal further includes:
transmitting an abnormal event notification to an external data center via the wireless communications interface.

2. A method as in claim 1 ;
and wherein providing the abnormal event signal further includes:
transmitting the event log to an external data center via the wireless communications interface.

3. A method as in claim 1 , further comprising:
storing other entries in the event log of the apparatus while the data storage equipment is in transit to enable the event log to describe a positional integrity history for the data storage equipment.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the multiple motion sensing circuits includes a set of gyroscope circuits; and
wherein obtaining the multiple motion signals includes:
receiving a series of gyroscope signals from the set of gyroscope circuits, the series of gyroscope signals identifying angular positioning of the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit.

5. A method as in claim 4 wherein performing the series of comparison operations includes:
based on the series of gyroscope signals, comparing a series of angular positions of the data storage equipment to a set of tilt ranges to determine whether the data storage equipment violates an upright requirement imposed on the data storage equipment.

6. A method as in claim 1 wherein the multiple motion sensing circuits includes a set of accelerometer circuits; and
wherein obtaining the multiple motion signals includes:
receiving a series of accelerometer signals from the set of accelerometer circuits, the series of accelerometer signals identifying vibrational activity of the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit.

7. A method as in claim 6 wherein performing the series of comparison operations includes:
based on the series of accelerometer signals, comparing a series of vibrational measurements of the data storage equipment to a set of vibration ranges to determine whether the data storage equipment violates vibration restriction imposed on the data storage equipment.

8. A method as in claim 1 wherein the multiple motion sensing circuits includes a global positioning system (GPS) circuit; and
wherein obtaining the multiple motion signals includes:
receiving a series of GPS signals from the GPS circuit, the series of GPS signals identifying a series of geolocations for the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit.

9. A method as in claim 8 wherein performing the series of comparison operations includes:
based on the series of GPS signals, comparing the series of geolocations for the data storage equipment to a set of geolocation ranges to determine whether the data storage equipment violates a geolocation restriction imposed on the data storage equipment.

10. A method as in claim 1 wherein the multiple motion sensing circuits includes a set of gyroscope circuits, a set of accelerometer circuits, and a global positioning system (GPS) circuit, each of which consumes battery backup power from the backup power source of the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit; and
wherein obtaining the multiple motion signals includes:
receiving a series of gyroscope signals from the set of gyroscope circuits, the series of gyroscope signals identifying angular positioning of the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit,
receiving a series of accelerometer signals from the set of accelerometer circuits, the series of accelerometer signals identifying vibrational activity of the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit, and
receiving a series of GPS signals from the GPS circuit, the series of GPS signals identifying a series of geolocations for the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is in transit.

11. A method as in claim 10 , further comprising:
after the storage processing circuitry of the data storage equipment is turned on, continuing to monitor the data storage equipment for another abnormal event based on positional integrity measurements while data storage equipment is turned on.

12. A method as in claim 1 wherein the set of sensors is part of an electronic apparatus that is separate and distinct from the data storage equipment; and
wherein the electronic apparatus performs receiving the series of sensor signals, performing the series of comparison operations, and providing the abnormal event signal while the data storage equipment is turned off.

13. A method as in claim 12 , further comprising:
consuming, by the electronic apparatus, battery backup power from the data storage equipment while the data storage equipment is turned off.

14. A method as in claim 1 wherein the set of sensors is part of an electronic apparatus that is separate and distinct from the data storage equipment; and
wherein the m

Assignees

• Emc Ip Holding Co Llc

Inventors

• Sheelvant Girish
• Gaurav Natasha
• Tummala Himabindu
• Lazar Gregory W
• Joyce Scott E

Classifications

• G06F3/0619 Primary

  in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors · CPC title

• B60L53/80

  Exchanging energy storage elements, e.g. removable batteries · CPC title

• G06F3/0607

  by facilitating the process of upgrading existing storage systems, e.g. for improving compatibility between host and storage device · CPC title

• G06F3/0625

  Power saving in storage systems · CPC title

• G06F3/0653

  Monitoring storage devices or systems · CPC title