Associative Content Unit for CAS Identifier Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

In content addressable storage systems, users face difficulties in accessing content units using easily memorable identifiers, as content addresses generated through hashing are often long and random, making it hard for humans to remember and manage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves associating a source string with a target content unit on a content addressable storage system by creating an associative content unit with a binding portion containing the source string and a non-binding portion containing the content address, allowing the source string to be used for accessing the content unit while retaining the benefits of content addresses for verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If content addresses are generated through hashing to ensure data integrity and verification, then reliability is improved, but the identifiers become long and random making them difficult for humans to remember and manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrity verificationVSAvoidease of remembering and managing identifiers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that maps user-friendly identifiers to content addresses. A database stores associations between human-readable names and their corresponding content addresses, allowing users to access content using easy-to-remember identifiers while the system automatically resolves these to the actual content addresses for retrieval and verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent separates the identifier function into two components: a human-readable identifier for ease of operation and a content address for integrity verification. The content address itself is segmented into a binding portion (for hashing) and non-binding portion, allowing the system to maintain both usability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If content addresses are used to identify content units, then data integrity and verification capabilities are maintained, but the addresses are long and random making them difficult for users to remember

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification capabilitiesVSAvoidcomplexity of identifiers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs an intermediary database that mediates between simple user identifiers and complex content addresses. This database stores mappings between easy-to-remember names and their corresponding content addresses, eliminating the need for users to directly handle complex identifiers while preserving verification capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a simplified copy of the identifier (the content address) that can be stored and verified independently. The binding portion of the content address is used to generate a hash that serves as a verifiable copy, allowing integrity checks without requiring users to manage the full complex identifier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If hashing functions are used to generate content addresses, then data integrity is ensured, but the resulting addresses are difficult for humans to remember and manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidease of remembering

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer (database) that translates between human-readable names and hashed content addresses. This mediator handles the contradiction by allowing users to interact with simple names while the system automatically uses hashing for integrity verification in the background.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs self-service by automatically generating and managing content addresses through hashing without requiring user intervention. The binding portion of the content address is hashed to create a verification token that the system manages autonomously, freeing users from dealing with complex identifiers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach enables users to access content units with easy-to-remember names while maintaining the integrity and verification capabilities of content addresses, allowing for efficient retrieval and ensuring data integrity by using the same hashing function for verification.

Implementation Method 1

hashing the source identifier to generate a second content address

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHashing:

Implementation Method 2

extracting the target content address from the second content unit

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectExtraction:

Data Source

PatentUS8335890B1Associating an identifier with a content unit

Publication Date: 2012.12.18 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

Embodiments of the invention relate to associating a source string with a target content unit stored on a content addressable storage (CAS) system. This may be accomplished, in some embodiments, by storing on the CAS system an associative content unit that includes the source string in its binding part and includes the target content unit in its non-binding part.