Apparatus, method, and storage medium for controlling a power saving state in a SATA storage system

A method of controlling an information processing apparatus that includes (i) a first controller that includes an interface in compliance with a SATA (Serial Advance Technology Attachment) standard, the first controller having at least one first processor and at least one first memory, the at least one first processor being configured to deploy a program stored in the at least one first memory for implementing the method, (ii) a second controller that is provided between the first controller and a storage device and includes an interface in compliance with the SATA standard, the second controller having at least one second processor and at least one second memory, the at least one second processor being configured to deploy a program stored in the at least one second memory for implementing the method, (iii) a main controller having at least one third processor and at least one third memory, the at least one third processor being configured to deploy a program stored in the at least one third memory for implementing the method, and (iv) a power control circuit that is controlled by the second controller and controls a provision of power to the storage device, the method comprising:

• setting the first controller, the second controller, and the storage device to a first controller power saving state, a second controller power saving state, and a storage device power saving state, respectively, in association with a power state of the information processing apparatus;
• transitioning the first controller to the first controller power saving state in accordance with the setting of the first controller and in response to a transition request from the main controller;
• transitioning the second controller to the second controller power saving state in accordance with the setting of the second controller and in response to the first controller power saving state to which the first controller has transitioned;
• starting, for the first controller, a restoration processing from the first controller power saving state in response to an interrupt from the main controller;
• starting a restoration processing of the second controller in accordance with an interrupt from the first controller;
• obtaining, for the first controller, information regarding power control of the storage device from the second controller;
• and
• determining, for the first controller, based on the information regarding the power control of the storage device, whether or not to execute preprocessing that is accompanied by access to the storage device.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing a processor to execute a method of controlling an information processing apparatus that includes (i) a first controller that includes an interface in compliance with a SATA (Serial Advance Technology Attachment) standard, the first controller having at least one first processor and at least one first memory, the at least one first processor being configured to deploy a program stored in the at least one first memory for implementing the method, (ii) a second controller that is provided between the first controller and a storage device and includes an interface in compliance with the SATA standard, the second controller having at least one second processor and at least one second memory, the at least one second processor being configured to deploy a program stored in the at least one second memory for implementing the method, (iii) a main controller having at least one third processor and at least one third memory, the at least one third processor being configured to deploy a program stored in the at least one third memory for implementing the method, and (iv) a power control circuit that is controlled by the second controller and controls a provision of power to the storage device, the method comprising:

• setting the first controller, the second controller, and the storage device to a first controller power saving state, a second controller power saving state, and a storage device power saving state, respectively, in association with a power state of the information processing apparatus;
• transitioning the first controller to the first controller power saving state in accordance with the setting of the first controller and in response to a transition request from the main controller;
• transitioning the second controller to the second controller power saving state in accordance with the setting of the second controller and in response to the first controller power saving state to which the first controller has transitioned;
• starting, for the first controller, a restoration processing from the first controller power saving state in response to an interrupt from the main controller;
• starting a restoration processing of the second controller in accordance with an interrupt from the first controller;
• obtaining, for the first controller, information regarding power control of the storage device from the second controller;
• and
• determining, for the first controller, based on the information regarding the power control of the storage device, whether or not to execute preprocessing that is accompanied by access to the storage device.