Distributed Storage System for Long-Term Data Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing object storage systems are inadequate for long-term data storage due to limitations in resilience, security, and energy efficiency, as they often require high node-to-node bandwidth, are geographically concentrated, 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 data resilience and security, with features like adaptive low-bandwidth connectivity, low energy consumption, and multi-factor authentication, allowing for secure and reliable long-term data storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored in a single location or on a single storage system, then storage simplicity is maintained, but data reliability and resilience are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides data into multiple segments or shards that are distributed across different storage nodes and geographical locations. This segmentation approach enhances data reliability by ensuring that loss or failure at any single node does not result in complete data loss, while maintaining manageable complexity through automated distribution mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies or replicas of data and distributes them across different storage systems and geographical locations. This copying strategy ensures data resilience against failures, natural disasters, or geopolitical events, while the system manages replica synchronization automatically to control complexity.
2Reliability
If Object Storage Systems are geographically concentrated for ease of management, then operational simplicity is improved, but vulnerability to geographic risks and natural disasters increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the storage architecture from a single geographical location to multiple dimensions across different geographical regions, continents, or political jurisdictions. This dimensional expansion protects against location-specific risks while the system abstracts away management complexity through unified access protocols and automated failover mechanisms.
3Reliability
If high node-to-node bandwidth is provided for data replication, then data consistency is improved, but energy consumption and infrastructure cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic or event-driven data synchronization rather than continuous high-bandwidth replication. Data is replicated and synchronized at specific intervals or triggered by events such as data changes, which maintains data consistency across distributed nodes while significantly reducing energy consumption and network infrastructure requirements compared to continuous synchronization.
4Reliability
If robust security mechanisms are implemented for end-to-end confidentiality, then data security is improved, but system complexity and authentication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary components such as trusted third parties, certificate authorities, or distributed key management services that facilitate secure authentication and encryption without requiring each node to implement complex security protocols independently. This intermediary approach strengthens end-to-end confidentiality while centralizing security management to reduce overall system complexity.
Data Source
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. A system may include witness functionality in which a trusted user and/or client acts to maintain consistent storage policies on behalf of one or more users and/or clients. A system may further include system controllers associated with logical and/or physical sites that coordinate object, user, device, and system management functionally.