Data Storage Snapshot Archive Release Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Frequent data backups lead to significant storage space requirements due to the need to retain unneeded data, resulting in wasted space as older archives accumulate.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates point-in-time images of data storage, allowing older archives to be released after new archives are generated, with snapshots capturing only the new data, thereby freeing up storage space by eliminating older archives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If frequent backups are performed to enable retrieval of lost files, then reliability of data recovery is improved, but storage space consumption increases due to accumulation of older archives
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary data blocks from older archives that are still referenced by active snapshots. By identifying and removing only the unneeded portions of archived data rather than entire archives, the system maintains data recovery capability while reducing storage consumption of obsolete backup copies
Solution Approach 2:
The system discards older archive data that is no longer needed for recovery, while recovering and retaining only the specific data blocks that remain useful. This selective discarding approach allows frequent backups to be performed without permanently accumulating unnecessary storage space
2Reliability
If older archives are retained to ensure data recovery options, then reliability is improved, but storage space is wasted on unneeded data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments archived data into individual data blocks and tracks which blocks are still needed versus which can be discarded. By segmenting the archive at the block level rather than treating entire archives as units, the system can selectively retain only necessary portions while discarding waste, improving storage efficiency without compromising recovery capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of data retention from archive-level to block-level granularity. This parameter change allows dynamic assessment of each data block's usefulness, enabling the system to maintain reliability by keeping needed blocks while eliminating storage waste from obsolete blocks
Data Source
AI summary
Use of data images to allow release of unneeded data storage. An embodiment of a method includes generating a series of archives of a set of data, each archive of the series of archives being stored in a data storage. The method further includes releasing an older archive in the series of archives from the data storage after a new archive in the series of archives is generated. A point-in-time image of the data storage is generated after each new archive in the series of archives is generated, with the data captured by the image including data contained in the new archive.