# US 12,008,264 B2 · Smart network interface controller host storage access

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,008,264 B2
- Document ID: US12008264B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/576,601
- Filed: 2022-01-14
- Published: 2023-06-22
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-12-22
- Assignees: Dell Products L.P.
- Applicants: Dell Products L.P.
- Inventors: Zheng Zhang; Zhuo Zhang; Neil Tang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008264B2

## CPC

- G06F 1/30: Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24)
- G06F 3/0659: {Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling}
- G06F 1/26: Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof (for memories G11C)
- G06F 3/0608: {Saving storage space on storage systems}
- G06F 3/0664: {at device level, e.g. emulation of a storage device or system}
- G06F 3/067: {Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]}
- Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

An information handling system may include a host system including at least one processor, a host physical storage resource, a network interface, and a control circuit. The network interface may be configured to, in response to the host system being powered down: transmit one or more signals to the control circuit, wherein the one or more signals are configured to cause the control circuit to supply power and data connectivity from the network interface to the host physical storage resource; and provide access to the host physical storage resource from a remote network information handling system while the host system is powered down.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method comprising:
in response to a host system being powered down, a network interface of the host system transmitting one or more signals to a control circuit, wherein the host system includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) root complex, wherein the network interface includes a second PCIe root complex, wherein the one or more signals are configured to cause the control circuit to supply power and data connectivity from the network interface to a host physical storage resource of the host system, wherein the data connectivity is via the second PCIe root complex, and wherein the host physical storage resource is a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drive; and
the network interface providing access to the host physical storage resource from a remote network information handling system while the host system is powered down.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the data connectivity includes a clock signal, and wherein the host system includes a clock buffer configured to provide the clock signal to the host physical storage resource alternately from the host system or from the network interface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to the host system being powered up, the network interface transmitting one or more second signals to the control circuit, wherein the one or more second signals are configured to cause the control circuit to supply power and data connectivity from the host system to the host physical storage resource.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the host system includes a plurality of host physical storage resources, and wherein the control circuit is configured to supply power and data connectivity from the network interface to a selected subset of the plurality of host physical storage resources.

### Claim 6

An article of manufacture comprising a non-transitory, computer-readable medium having instructions thereon that are executable by a processor of a network interface of an information handling system for:
in response to a host system that includes the network interface being powered down, transmitting one or more signals to a control circuit, wherein the host system includes a first Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) root complex, wherein the network interface includes a second PCIe root complex, wherein the one or more signals are configured to cause the control circuit to supply power and data connectivity from the network interface to a host physical storage resource of the host system, wherein the data connectivity is via the second PCIe root complex, and wherein the host physical storage resource is a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drive; and
providing access to the host physical storage resource from a remote network information handling system while the host system is powered down.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The article of claim 6, wherein the data connectivity includes a clock signal, and wherein the host system includes a clock buffer configured to provide the clock signal to the host physical storage resource alternately from the host system or from the network interface.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The article of claim 6, wherein, in response to the host system being powered up, the network interface is configured to transmit one or more second signals to the control circuit, wherein the one or more second signals are configured to cause the control circuit to supply power and data connectivity from the host system to the host physical storage resource.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The article of claim 6, wherein the control circuit includes a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The article of claim 6, wherein the host system includes a plurality of host physical storage resources, and wherein the control circuit is configured to supply power and data connectivity from the network interface to a selected subset of the plurality of host physical storage resources.

### Claim 11

An information handling system comprising:
a host system including at least one processor and a first Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) root complex;
a host physical storage resource, wherein the host physical storage resource is a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) drive;
a network interface including a second PCIe root complex; and
a control circuit;
wherein the network interface is configured to, in response to the host system being powered down:
transmit one or more signals to the control circuit, wherein the one or more signals are configured to cause the control circuit to supply power and data connectivity from the network interface to the host physical storage resource, wherein the data connectivity is via the second PCIe root complex; and
provide access to the host physical storage resource from a remote network information handling system while the host system is powered down.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The information handling system of claim 11, wherein the data connectivity includes a clock signal, and wherein the host system includes a clock buffer configured to provide the clock signal to the host physical storage resource alternately from the host system or from the network interface.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The information handling system of claim 11, wherein, in response to the host system being powered up, the network interface is configured to transmit one or more second signals to the control circuit, wherein the one or more second signals are configured to cause the control circuit to supply power and data connectivity from the host system to the host physical storage resource.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The information handling system of claim 11, wherein the control circuit includes a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The information handling system of claim 11, wherein the host system includes a plurality of host physical storage resources, and wherein the control circuit is configured to supply power and data connectivity from the network interface to a selected subset of the plurality of host physical storage resources.