Modular edge storage devices with high speed interconnects

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11844186-B2
Application number	US-202217894323-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2022
Priority date	Nov 26, 2019
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

A data storage ecosystem that includes a series of devices of increasing size, designed to look and work together as a family, with at least one of the devices being a data storage device having a first consumer-accessible connector and a second high speed connector. The data storage ecosystem also includes a rack-mounted docking unit having a third high speed interfacing connector configured to couple to the second high speed connector of the data storage device when the data storage device is inserted into the rack-mounted docking unit.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising:
a portable multi-drive data storage device having a plurality of non-removable data storage drives, a data gathering consumer accessible data interface connector and a high speed data connector; and
a rack-mounted docking unit configured to receive the portable multi-drive storage device, the rack-mounted docking unit being configured for use in a rack of a data center and having at least one high speed data connector;
wherein in a data gathering configuration the data gathering consumer accessible data interface connector of the portable multi-drive data storage device is configured to be removably coupled to an external computer and is configured to store data generated by the external computer; and
wherein in a data transfer configuration the portable multi-drive data storage device is disconnected from the external computer, transported to the rack-mounted docking unit and removably inserted into and coupled to the rack-mounted docking unit by connecting the at least one high speed data connector of the rack-mounted docking unit to the high speed data connector of the portable multi-drive data storage device to transfer the data stored in the portable data storage device from the external computer to the data center.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the rack-mounted docking unit further comprises a plurality of slots each configured to receive the portable multi-drive data storage device, wherein the at least one high speed data connector of the rack-mounted docking unit is located at a back of each of the slots and aligns with the high speed data connector on the portable multi-drive data storage device.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the high speed data connector of the portable multi-drive data storage device comprises a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) connector and the at least one high speed data connector of the rack-mounted docking unit comprises a PCIe connector.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a field-replaceable module (FRM) located behind the rack-mounted docking unit and coupled to the at least one high speed data connector of the rack-mounted docking unit.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the FRM converts high speed data signals to other data transfer protocols that are suitable for communicating with the data center.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the portable multi-drive data storage device further comprises at least one cooler configured to cool the plurality of non-removable data storage drives during the data gathering configuration and during the data transfer configuration.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein after the data generated by the external computer is transferred from the portable multi-drive data storage device, the portable multi-drive data storage device is configured to be removed from the rack-mounted docking unit and configured to be reused for data gathering.

8. A system comprising:
a portable multi-drive data storage device encased in a single casing including a front end having a handle, a back end having a plurality of data connectors including at least one consumer-accessible data connector and at least one high speed data connector, a plurality of non-removable data storage drives and internal control circuitry, wherein the internal control circuitry is configured to enable communication between each of the plurality of non-removable data storage drives and is coupled to the plurality of data connectors;
a rack-mounted docking unit configured for use in a data center rack including a base frame, a top cover, a rear panel and a front panel having at least one opening that is sized to removably receive the portable multi-drive data storage device into a corresponding slot in the rack-mounted docking unit, wherein the rear panel includes at least one high speed data connector that corresponds with the at least one opening and corresponding slot; and
wherein in a data gathering configuration, the portable multi-drive data storage device connects to a computer using the at least one consumer-accessible data connector to ingest data generated by the computer; and
wherein in a data transfer configuration, the portable multi-drive storage device is disconnected from the computer, transported to the rack-mounted docking unit and insertable into the rack-mounted docking unit using the handle on the front end of the portable multi-drive storage device, wherein the high speed data connector on the back end of the portable multi-drive storage device aligns with and is connected to the high speed data connector of the rear panel of the rack-mounted docking unit upon being fully inserted into the rack-mounted docking unit.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising a field-replaceable module (FRM) located behind the rack-mounted docking unit and coupled to the at least one high speed data connector of the rear panel of the rack-mounted docking unit.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the FRM converts high speed data signals to other data transfer protocols that are suitable for communicating with data center infrastructure.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the portable multi-drive data storage device further comprises at least one cooler configured to cool the plurality of non-removable data storage drives during the data gathering configuration and during the data transfer configuration.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the high speed data connector of the portable multi-drive data storage device comprises a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) connector and the at least one high speed data connector of the rack-mounted docking unit comprises a PCIe connector.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the portable multi-drive data storage device comprises an array of a plurality of hard disc drives.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the portable multi-drive data storage device comprises an array of a plurality of sold-state drives.

15. The system of claim 8 , wherein the portable multi-drive data storage device comprises an array of a plurality of hard disc drives and a plurality of solid-state drives.

16. A system comprising:
an external computer located at a first physical location and configured to generate data;
a portable multi-drive data storage device encased in a single casing including a front end having a handle, a back end having a plurality of data connectors including at least one consumer-accessible data connector and at least one high speed data connector, a plurality of non-removable data storage drives and internal control circuitry that is configured to enable communication between each of the plurality of non-removable data storage drives and is coupled to the plurality of data connectors, wherein the portable multi-drive data storage device is configured to ingest the data generated by the external computer after connecting the at least one consumer-accessible connector to the external computer and is configured to transport the ingested data to a different second physical location after disconnecting the at least one consumer-accessible connector from the external computer;
a rack-mounted docking unit configured for use in a rack of a data center that is located at the second physical location and including a base frame, a top cover, a rear panel and a front panel having at least one opening that is sized to removably receive the transported portable multi-drive data storage device into a slot in the rack-mounted docking unit, wherein the rear panel includes at least one high speed data connector that corresponds with the slot to connect the at least

Assignees

• Seagate Technology Llc

Inventors

• Mcparland Paul
• Masson Bruno Jean
• Fochtman Jeffrey Dale

Classifications

• H05K7/1487 Primary

  Blade assemblies, e.g. blade cases or inner arrangements within a blade · CPC title

• H05K7/1489

  characterized by the mounting of blades therein, e.g. brackets, rails, trays (H05K7/1491 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H05K7/1492

  having electrical distribution arrangements, e.g. power supply or data communications · CPC title

• G11B33/126 Primary

  Arrangements for providing electrical connections, e.g. connectors, cables, switches · CPC title

• G11B33/128

  of the plurality of recording/reproducing devices, e.g. disk drives, onto a chassis · CPC title