Data Transfer Manifest for Physical Storage Media

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network-based data transfer methods, such as over the internet, face limitations due to bandwidth constraints, speed, and cost, and lack integrated management, security, data mapping, and validation, making physical data transfer via storage media a necessary alternative.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing storage media, where a data transfer manifest is created and used to copy data between a customer's storage medium and a storage service infrastructure, incorporating data transfer client and storage service components for secure, validated data transfer, with support for importing and exporting data, and providing tracking and management of data transfer jobs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If network-based data transfer over the internet is used, then data transfer can be performed remotely, but bandwidth constraints and speed limitations occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote data transfer capabilityVSAvoiddata transfer speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces physical storage media (hard drives, solid-state drives) as an intermediary carrier for data transfer. Instead of directly transferring data over the network, data is first written to physical media at the source location, then the media is physically transported to the destination where data is read from it. This intermediary approach bypasses network bandwidth constraints and achieves much higher transfer speeds.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If network-based data transfer is used, then data can be transferred between locations, but cost and time increase due to bandwidth limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer capabilityVSAvoiddata transfer time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Physical storage media serve as an intermediary that enables rapid data transfer by eliminating network transmission bottlenecks. The media is prepared with data at the source, shipped physically (which is faster than network transfer for large datasets), and then read at the destination, significantly reducing overall transfer time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by writing data to physical storage media at the source location before shipping. This preparation phase allows data to be staged on fast local storage, and the subsequent physical transport and reading process becomes much more efficient than attempting to transfer the same data over the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If physical storage media is used for data transfer, then bandwidth and speed limitations are overcome, but integrated management, security, and validation are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer speedVSAvoiddata management and security
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms through checksum validation and data verification processes. When data is read from the physical storage media at the destination, the system performs validation checks to ensure data integrity. This feedback loop confirms that the data was correctly written, transported, and read, providing reliability despite the use of physical media.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a universal data transfer solution that combines the speed advantages of physical media with the management and security features of cloud storage systems. The same infrastructure that provides fast physical transfer also implements standardized protocols for authentication, encryption, validation, and data management, making the system as secure and manageable as network-based solutions.

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

4Productivity

If conventional physical data transfer methods are used, then network bandwidth limitations are avoided, but data mapping and validation capabilities are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoiddata mapping and validation
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs feedback through comprehensive data validation mechanisms including checksum verification, file integrity checks, and mapping validation. After data is transferred via physical media, the system verifies that the transferred data matches the source data and that file mappings are correct, preventing data loss or corruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary data mapping and validation setup before the physical transfer occurs. File mappings are defined in advance, and validation rules are configured beforehand. This preliminary preparation ensures that when data is transferred on physical media, the pre-established mappings and validation criteria can be efficiently applied to ensure data integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3149649B1Data transfer service
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3149649B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3149649B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3149649B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

In various embodiments, methods and systems for transferring data using a storage medium are provided. A storage medium may be shipped by a customer to a datacenter such that the data on the storage medium is copied to a storage associated with the datacenter or data in the storage is copied to the storage medium. The datacenter may support a cloud computing infrastructure that provides a storage account to the customer that is associated with the data copied from or copied to the storage medium. The storage medium further corresponds to a data transfer manifest that includes at least in part data mapping between storage service infrastructure and data in the storage medium. It is contemplated that embodiments of the present invention may further be implemented with data transfer service components that support a client component, storage service component, and a data transfer management component.