Dispersed Storage Partial Data Update Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dispersed storage networks face challenges in maintaining data integrity and availability due to storage unit failures without the need for redundant copies, especially when updating data attributes, which can lead to performance issues and data loss.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a dispersed storage network (DSN) with a managing unit, integrity processing unit, and computing devices that utilize error encoding techniques like Cauchy Reed-Solomon encoding to distribute data into encoded data slices, ensuring data recovery and security across multiple storage units, and a partial updating process that allows efficient modification of data segments without reassembling the entire data object.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional dispersed storage networks store data without redundant copies, then storage efficiency is improved, but data integrity and availability deteriorate when storage unit failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides data into multiple data segments and encodes them into dispersed storage units using error correction codes. Each storage unit contains a portion of the encoded data, allowing the system to maintain data integrity without requiring redundant copies of the entire data object. This segmentation enables efficient storage while providing fault tolerance through distributed redundancy of encoded portions.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the entire data object is updated when modifying data attributes, then data consistency is maintained, but system performance and update efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial updating by modifying only the specific data segments that have changed rather than updating the entire data object. The system identifies which data segments require updates based on the modification request and applies changes only to those segments, maintaining data consistency for the modified portions while leaving unchanged segments intact. This significantly improves update efficiency while preserving data consistency.
3Reliability
If redundant copies of data are stored to ensure availability, then data reliability is improved, but storage efficiency and system complexity worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the storage parameter from storing redundant copies of complete data objects to storing encoded data segments with error correction. By using error correction codes, the system can reconstruct lost data segments without requiring identical redundant copies, thereby maintaining data availability while improving storage efficiency. The encoded segments provide the necessary redundancy at a lower storage cost.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for execution by one or more processing modules of a dispersed storage network (DSN). The method begins by the DSN receiving a request to update one or more data segments of a data object and continues with the DSN determining whether one or more encoded data slices (EDSs) of a plurality of EDSs associated with the one or more data segments of the data object are eligible for partial updating. The DSN then executes a partial updating process for the eligible EDS while excluding any EDSs eligible for the partial updating that would be unaffected during the partial updating process.