Central Service for Storage Appliance Data Replication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for managing user data in storage appliances across a wide area network lack efficient methods for sharing and replicating data between users without central service intervention, leading to limitations in data accessibility and synchronization.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize a central service to manage user data by establishing user accounts, storage appliances, and container designations, enabling peer-to-peer data replication and synchronization without interacting with user data, and allowing users to share data with consent-based access levels through a network interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a central service is used to manage user data relationships, then data accessibility and synchronization are improved, but central service load and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata synchronizationVSAvoidcentral service load

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the data management system into three distinct components: (1) a central service that manages relationship metadata and coordination, (2) storage appliances that independently store and manage actual user data, and (3) user devices that initiate data operations. This segmentation allows the central service to focus only on relationship management rather than handling all data operations, thereby reducing its load while maintaining synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the central service acts as a coordinator that manages relationships between storage appliances and containers without directly handling user data. The central service stores relationship information in a database and coordinates data operations by directing storage appliances to replicate data to appropriate destinations, thus mediating between users and the distributed storage system while reducing central service burden.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If peer-to-peer data replication is implemented, then data sharing efficiency is improved, but data security and access control become more difficult to manage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata sharing efficiencyVSAvoiddata security

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by establishing access control relationships before data replication occurs. The central service stores relationship information in a database that defines which storage appliances can access which containers and under what conditions. This pre-established framework ensures that data security and access control are maintained from the outset, allowing efficient peer-to-peer replication to proceed without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the central service monitors and coordinates data replication operations between storage appliances. The system tracks relationship information and ensures that data sharing operations comply with established access controls. This feedback loop maintains data security while enabling efficient peer-to-peer replication by providing real-time coordination and verification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If users can share data with multiple storage appliances, then data accessibility is improved, but relationship management complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidrelationship management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by creating a standardized relationship management framework that handles multiple storage appliances and containers through a single unified system. The central service database stores relationship information in a consistent format that can represent any combination of users, storage appliances, and containers. This universal approach allows users to share data with multiple storage appliances without increasing management complexity, as the same framework handles all relationships regardless of their specific configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9218406B2System and method for managing user data in a plurality of storage appliances over a wide area network for collaboration, protection, publication, or sharing

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 STORCENTRIC DIP LENDER LLC

AI summary

In various embodiments, the present invention relates to a method of operating a server to manage user data in a plurality of storage appliances. The method involves establishing in a database system, via the server, information for each registered user; establishing and storing in the database system a set of relationships, based on designations by the users, among registered storage appliances and container designations; and using a central service running on the server to deliver storage appliance-container relationship data to the storage appliances so as to enable the appliances to substantiate the containers therein, and to replicate user data with other storage appliances that have substantiated corresponding containers, in a manner consistent with the stored relationships, and wherein the central service operates without interaction with user data stored in the containers.