Dynamic Storage Filter for Cross-Platform File Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual machine environments, changes made by users are often lost when restarting or switching between different operating systems, as existing solutions require saving and restoring entire images, leading to storage inefficiencies and data loss, especially in cloud-based Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) environments where users need to manage multiple OS platforms.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a Dynamic Storage Filter (DSF) that intercepts file operations, determines sharable changes, and converts file formats to ensure seamless data access across multiple platforms, using a single personal disk for all OS environments, without the user's awareness, and utilizing a Converter Database to map file types and locations for compatibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a separate personal disk is created for each OS platform, then data access across platforms is enabled, but device complexity and storage space increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple platform-specific personal disks into a single universal personal disk that serves all OS platforms. The dynamic storage filter redirects file operations from multiple virtual disks to this single physical disk, eliminating the need for separate disks for each platform while maintaining data accessibility across different operating systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The single personal disk is designed to be universal and platform-independent, capable of storing and serving data for multiple different OS platforms simultaneously. The dynamic storage filter enables this disk to function as if it were multiple separate disks, providing adaptability across Windows, Linux, and other platforms without requiring platform-specific disk instances.
2Adaptability or versatility
If file format conversion is implemented for cross-platform compatibility, then data accessibility improves, but processing time and system resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary file format conversion when files are initially written to the personal disk, rather than converting them at the time of access. The dynamic storage filter intercepts write operations and converts files to a universal format suitable for cross-platform compatibility in advance, so that subsequent read operations across different platforms can proceed without additional conversion delays.
3Reliability
If dynamic storage filtering is implemented to redirect file operations, then data persistence across VM restarts is achieved, but system overhead and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the file operation interception and redirection logic into a separate dynamic storage filter component that operates independently from the core OS file system. This filter layer captures file operations at the virtual disk level and redirects them to the universal personal disk, maintaining data persistence without requiring modifications to the underlying OS or application code, thereby limiting the complexity overhead to a manageable filter layer.
Data Source
AI summary
File mapping and converting for dynamic disk personalization for multiple platforms are provided. A volatile file operation is detected in a first platform. The file supported by the first platform. A determination is made that the file is sharable with a second platform. The volatile operation is performed on the file in the first platform and the modified file is converted to a second file supported by the second platform. The modified file and second file are stored in a personalized disk for a user. The personalized disk is used to modify base images for VMs of the user when the user accesses the first platform or second platform. The modified file is available within the first platform and the second file is available within the second platform.