Content Classes for Object Storage Indexing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in searching for specific content across large object storage systems due to varying metadata formats and storage locations, leading to inefficient indexing and resource-intensive solutions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of content classes with user-defined properties, such as XML, JSON, and regular expression patterns, enables automated metadata enhancement and uniform indexing across different data sources, allowing for structured querying and efficient storage resource utilization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a general indexing mechanism is implemented to enable searching across diverse object data sources with varying metadata formats, then search capability and adaptability are improved, but storage resources consumed by the index increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch capabilityVSAvoidstorage resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and indexes only specific selected metadata fields rather than all metadata. The system allows users to define which metadata fields to index, extracting only the relevant portions needed for search while leaving other metadata unindexed, thus reducing index storage requirements while maintaining search functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial indexing by allowing selective indexing of metadata fields. Instead of indexing all metadata comprehensively, the system indexes only the necessary subset of fields that users specify, achieving adequate search coverage with reduced storage overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If comprehensive metadata indexing is performed across all object data sources, then search completeness is improved, but indexing complexity and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch completenessVSAvoidindexing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the indexing process into manageable components. It divides metadata into different fields and allows selective indexing of individual fields. The system also segments the indexing operation into extraction, transformation, and loading phases, making the overall process less complex and more controllable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic indexing where users can flexibly define and modify which metadata fields to index based on their specific needs. The indexing configuration is not fixed but can be adapted dynamically, allowing the system to balance between search completeness and indexing complexity based on user requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Quantity of substance

If selective indexing of specific metadata fields is implemented, then storage efficiency is improved, but search flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindex storageVSAvoidsearch flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal indexing framework that can handle multiple metadata formats and fields through a unified interface. The system uses a standardized schema that can accommodate various metadata types (XML, JSON, key-value pairs) while maintaining consistent indexing operations, thus preserving search flexibility across diverse data sources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of indexability by allowing dynamic selection of which metadata fields to index. Users can modify the set of indexed fields based on their search requirements, enabling the system to adapt between storage efficiency and search flexibility by adjusting the indexing parameters rather than being fixed in one approach.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3420469B1Content classes for object storage indexing systems
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 HITACHI VANTARA LLC
  • EP3420469B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3420469B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3420469B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In some examples, a system may use content classes to manage indexing of object data. A content class may include a set of one or more content properties. Each content property may include a name, an expression for extracting data, and an expression type. When object data is received, such as for indexing, the expression type of each content property may be compared with the data type of the received data. Based at least in part on determining that the expression type matches the data type, the system may extract a data value from the received data in accordance with the expression. The system may save the extracted data value to a data structure in association with the name of the content property, and may subsequently use the data value and the name of the content property when creating an index for the object data.