Block-Aligned File Storage Using Partial Compression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage methods are inefficient and resource-intensive, often resulting in inaccurate and inflexible information storage due to files not aligning with physical disk block sizes, leading to wasted space.
Innovation Solution
A method where a processor identifies files exceeding multiple physical disk blocks by a fractional value, divides them into portions, stores the first portion uncompressed in one block, and compresses the second portion to fit within the next block, eliminating wasted space by using a compression algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If files are stored without alignment to physical disk block sizes, then storage flexibility is improved, but storage efficiency deteriorates due to wasted space
Solution Approach 1:
The file is divided into multiple portions, where each portion is aligned to a physical disk block size. The first portion occupies complete blocks, and the second portion (remaining fractional part) is compressed to fit into the next block, eliminating the traditional wasted space while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the state of the second portion of the file by applying compression. This transforms the fractional part that would normally be wasted into a compressed representation that fits exactly within the remaining block space, thereby eliminating storage waste while preserving adaptability.
2Loss of substance
If compression is applied to all files, then storage efficiency is improved, but processing time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of compressing entire files, the patent applies compression only to the second portion (the fractional part) of files that exceed complete block boundaries. This partial application of compression reduces processing time and resource consumption while still achieving storage efficiency by eliminating the wasted fractional space.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different storage strategies to different parts of the same file: the first portion is stored uncompressed in complete blocks, while only the second portion (the fractional remainder) is compressed. This localized approach optimizes the trade-off between processing overhead and storage efficiency.
3Loss of substance
If files are divided into multiple blocks, then storage efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments files into a first portion (complete blocks) and a second portion (fractional remainder), applying different handling strategies to each segment. This structured segmentation simplifies the management of divided blocks by creating a clear, predictable pattern for storage and retrieval operations.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for implementing a storage optimization process is provided. The method includes identifying a file for storage on a storage device. The storage device determines that the file comprises a file size that exceeds multiple physical disk blocks of the storage device by a fractional value. The file is divided into a first portion and a second portion. The first portion comprises a file size such that the first portion fits entirely within a first single block of the storage device. The second portion comprises a size such that the second portion exceeds a size of a second single block of the storage device by the fractional value. The first portion is stored within the first single block. The second portion is compressed such that a resulting compressed file fits entirely within the second single block.