Compressed Data Archive Browsing via Catalog Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for accessing data from compressed data archived images, especially over cloud-based storage, are time-consuming as they require decompressing the entire image to retrieve specific files or navigate directory hierarchies, leading to delays due to network retrieval times.
Innovation Solution
An interface layer that enables browsing and retrieval of files or directories within a compressed data archived image without decompressing the entire image, allowing for direct access and extraction of specific data through inode mappings and metadata, facilitating faster and more efficient data retrieval and navigation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the entire compressed data archived image is decompressed to retrieve specific files or navigate directory hierarchies, then complete data access is achieved, but retrieval time increases significantly due to network retrieval delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data archived image into a compressed archive format with a separate catalog/index structure. The catalog stores metadata about files and directories without requiring decompression of the actual data. This allows the system to navigate and retrieve information about stored files without decompressing the entire archived image, thereby reducing retrieval time while maintaining data accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a catalog or index as an intermediary structure between the compressed data archived image and the user's retrieval requests. This catalog acts as a mediator that provides information about the contents (files, directories, metadata) without requiring decompression of the compressed data. The intermediary enables fast navigation and selective retrieval while the compressed data remains intact on storage media.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the compressed data archived image is retrieved over a network from cloud-based storage, then data can be accessed remotely, but network retrieval time delays access significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the navigation and metadata information from the compressed data archived image by using a separate catalog or index structure. This extracted catalog can be accessed quickly without retrieving the entire compressed image over the network. The system extracts only the necessary metadata and directory information, allowing fast remote access to data locations and structures without the time-consuming network transfer of compressed data.
3Productivity
If the entire archived image is decompressed to access specific files, then complete file access is enabled, but processing resources and time are consumed unnecessarily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by creating and maintaining a catalog or index structure that records information about all files and directories in the archived image before actual retrieval operations. This pre-built catalog allows the system to quickly determine file locations, sizes, and metadata without decompressing the archived image. The preliminary catalog creation enables efficient selective retrieval while avoiding unnecessary decompression time and processing resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A request is received to retrieve at least a portion of a file from a compressed data archived image stored in a backup storage device. The compressed data archived image comprises a backup of a file system having a number of directories and a number of files. The compressed data archived image comprises a file that includes a compression of the number of files. An address of the at least the portion of the file within the compressed data archived image is determined. The at least the portion of the file is retrieved at the address in the compressed data archived image, without decompressing the compressed data archived image.