Distributed Storage Pooling for Airborne Data Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and complexity of deploying and maintaining satellites for organizations with limited needs hinder the utilization of satellite technology for operations like military, civilian observation, and communication, as they require continuous operations and extensive resources.
Innovation Solution
A distributed storage management system that allows satellite devices to share a pooled storage volume across multiple satellites, enabling efficient data storage and retrieval based on factors like processing capacity, orbital location, and communication latency, allowing data to be stored and retrieved from the most suitable satellite within the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If satellites are deployed to provide space-based operations, then operational capabilities are improved, but deployment cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments satellite functionality by separating compute resources and storage resources into independent virtualized components. Individual satellites can be deployed with specific functions while sharing resources across the constellation, reducing deployment complexity for organizations that don't need full satellite capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal satellite platform where multiple organizations can share the same physical infrastructure through virtualization. The satellite system can serve multiple purposes (observation, communication, navigation) and multiple customers simultaneously, improving adaptability while reducing per-organization deployment costs.
2Reliability
If continuous operations are required on satellites, then operational reliability is improved, but operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges storage resources from multiple satellites into a unified distributed storage pool. Data can be replicated across different satellites, providing redundancy and continuous availability without requiring any single satellite to operate continuously. This shared resource model reduces overall operational costs while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic resource allocation where satellite resources can be temporarily deactivated or repurposed when not needed for continuous operations, then recovered and reallocated when required. This allows organizations to pay only for actual usage rather than maintaining continuous operational readiness.
3Productivity
If extensive resources are allocated to satellites, then operational performance is improved, but accessibility for organizations with limited needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation through virtualization, allowing organizations to access only the compute and storage resources they actually need. Resource allocation can be adjusted in real-time based on demand, enabling small organizations to access satellite capabilities without allocating extensive resources, thus improving accessibility while maintaining high performance when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and software described herein provide enhancements for managing data storage in a spaceborne or airborne platform. In one implementation, an airborne device in an airborne platform may identify a request to store a data object in a storage pool provided by a plurality of airborne devices. The airborne device will further identify at least one airborne device for storing the data object from the plurality of airborne devices, and communicate the data object to the at least one airborne device.