Disk Image Deletion with Failure-Resistant Data Erasure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data storage management systems face security vulnerabilities and delayed reuse of disk images due to incomplete data erasure procedures, particularly when system failures occur during the erasure process, allowing subsequent computing processes to access unerased data.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves creating a temporary disk image to associate with the data storage portions of a deleted disk image, allowing the original disk image to be deleted before, during, or after the data erasure process, ensuring that data is erased even if system failures occur by re-initiating the erasure procedure after recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data storage is released for reuse after deleting a disk image, then storage availability and productivity are improved, but data security deteriorates because the data may still be present and accessible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage reuse efficiencyVSAvoiddata security vulnerability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data erasure (overwriting) on the data storage portions before releasing them for reuse. This preliminary action ensures that when storage is made available, the data is already erased, eliminating the security vulnerability while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary erasure process between deletion and reuse. The erasure process acts as a mediator that transforms the storage state from containing data to being erased, ensuring security is maintained during the transition to reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If data erasure is performed before deleting the disk image, then data security is improved, but storage reuse is delayed because the erasure process must complete first

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata securityVSAvoidstorage reuse delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary marking of data storage portions for erasure during the deletion process, but delays the actual erasure execution until after the disk image is deleted and storage is released. This allows security to be addressed without blocking reuse.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the timing of the erasure process based on system state. The erasure is initiated as a background task after deletion, allowing the system to adapt between immediate security and deferred execution to avoid blocking reuse operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If data erasure is performed after deleting the disk image, then storage reuse is improved, but data security deteriorates because system failures may occur during erasure leaving data accessible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage reuse speedVSAvoiddata erasure completeness

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms to track the deletion and erasure process state. By monitoring whether deletion completed successfully, the system can determine whether to proceed with erasure or handle failures, ensuring reliable data security even when performed after deletion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares for potential failures by having rollback or recovery mechanisms in place. If erasure is interrupted, the system can detect the incomplete state and retry or complete the erasure, cushioning against the security risk of incomplete erasure due to failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the erasure procedure is interrupted by a system failure, then system stability is compromised, but continuing without completion creates security vulnerabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidincomplete data erasure

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from failure detection to determine the appropriate response. When a failure is detected during erasure, the system monitors the state and can retry or complete the erasure process, ensuring security is maintained while handling instability gracefully.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system has preparatory error handling and recovery mechanisms ready before failures occur. These cushioning measures allow the system to handle interruptions without compromising security, by detecting incomplete erasure and initiating recovery actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Data Source

PatentUS9946480B2Disk image deletion with failure resistant data erasure

Publication Date: 2018.04.17 RED HAT ISRAEL

AI summary

Systems and methods for disk image deletion with failure resistant data erasure. An example method may comprise: receiving a request to delete a first disk image associated with a data storage portion; associating the data storage portion with a second disk image responsive to receiving the request to delete the first disk image; deleting the first disk image; and initiating a data erasure procedure on the data storage portion.