Distributed Storage System for Long-Term Data Resilience

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Object Storage Systems are inadequate for long-term data storage due to limitations in resilience, security, and energy efficiency, as they often rely on centralized nodes, high bandwidth, and lack robust mechanisms for end-to-end user confidentiality and authentication, making them vulnerable to geopolitical, economic, and geographic risks.

Innovation Solution

A Distributed Storage System (DSS) that utilizes multiple Object Storage Systems across diverse geographical locations, implementing rule-based replication, consistency, and storage control engines to ensure low energy consumption, adaptability to low bandwidth networks, and robust authentication and privacy mechanisms, allowing for multi-generational ownership and resilience across diverse political and geographic boundaries.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If Object Storage Systems are used for long-term data storage, then data availability and access convenience are improved, but resilience against geopolitical, economic, and geographic risks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access convenienceVSAvoidresilience against risks
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the storage system into multiple geographically distributed Object Storage Systems, each operating independently. This segmentation allows data to be accessed conveniently through any location while simultaneously providing resilience against regional risks such as natural disasters, political instability, or economic failures affecting single locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extends the storage architecture from a single location to multiple geographical dimensions. By distributing storage nodes across different continents and jurisdictions, the system adds spatial diversity as a protective dimension, enabling data to survive local catastrophes while maintaining accessible retrieval through the distributed network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If multiple replicas of data are stored across different locations, then resilience and security are improved, but energy consumption and bandwidth requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata resilienceVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic integrity checking of data replicas rather than continuous verification. Storage systems perform scheduled validation of data integrity and synchronization at intervals, reducing the continuous energy consumption and bandwidth usage while maintaining data resilience through periodic confirmation of replica validity across distributed locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables storage systems to autonomously manage replica validation and synchronization without requiring constant external intervention. Each distributed storage node independently performs self-diagnosis, integrity verification, and automatic repair of corrupted data, reducing the overall energy and communication overhead while maintaining high resilience through decentralized self-management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Device complexity

If centralized Object Storage Systems are used, then operational simplicity is improved, but vulnerability to single-point failures and external risks increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem operational simplicityVSAvoidvulnerability to failures
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized storage architecture into multiple independent distributed storage nodes. Each node operates with simplified local management while collectively providing enhanced reliability through geographic and organizational distribution, eliminating single-point failures while maintaining operational simplicity through standardized interfaces and automated coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intermediary coordination layers that manage communication and data synchronization between distributed storage nodes. These intermediaries handle the complexity of distributed operations transparently, allowing each individual node to remain operationally simple while the collective system achieves high reliability through coordinated redundancy and failover mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If robust authentication and confidentiality mechanisms are implemented, then security is improved, but system complexity and operational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity and confidentialityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universal authentication and encryption mechanisms that function consistently across all distributed storage nodes. By using standardized cryptographic protocols and unified access control policies, the system achieves robust security and confidentiality without requiring node-specific complex implementations, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high security standards through multi-functional standardized components.

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

Data Source

PatentUS10069914B1Distributed storage system for long term data storage
Publication Date: 2018.09.04 SMITH DAVID LANE
  • US10069914B1 patent drawing
  • US10069914B1 patent drawing
  • US10069914B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A distributed storage system for the long-term storage of data objects that is implemented utilizing one or more distinct storage sites that may be comprised of system controllers and object storage systems that act in concert to embody a single distributed storage system. A system may include a one or more types and/or instances of object storage systems in which replicas of objects are stored in at least two of the said object storage systems. A system may further include system controllers associated with logical and/or physical sites that coordinate object, user, device, and system management functionally.