Email Server Storage Deduplication via Reference Pointers
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing storage systems, such as email servers and data servers, face inefficiencies due to duplication of content when the same data is sent to multiple recipients, leading to excessive storage requirements and wasteful expenditure.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that compare new data with pre-existing data on a shared storage space, storing only a single copy of duplicate data and providing access through links, thereby reducing storage needs and maintaining transparency for users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the same email is transmitted to multiple recipients, then the email can be delivered to all recipients, but the storage space required increases proportionally with the number of recipients
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple identical email copies into a single stored instance. When an email is sent to multiple recipients, the system stores only one copy of the email content and creates multiple reference pointers to it, rather than duplicating the actual email data for each recipient.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses reference copying instead of data copying. Instead of creating physical copies of email data for each recipient, the system creates lightweight reference pointers that point to the single stored email instance, enabling multiple recipients to access the same email without increasing storage requirements.
2Reliability
If data is stored at multiple locations for redundancy, then data availability is improved, but storage space is wasted due to duplication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple data instances into a single stored object with shared references. Multiple users or systems can reference the same data object, ensuring data availability to all parties while maintaining only one physical copy in storage, thus eliminating redundant storage while preserving data accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If individual email accounts store emails separately on the same server, then each user has independent access, but storage space is excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements reference copying where each user account maintains independent reference pointers to email objects stored in a shared mailbox. This allows each user to have independent access control and permissions while the actual email data is stored only once in the shared mailbox, eliminating storage duplication across individual accounts.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, a system, a machine-readable medium, and an apparatus for managing storage on a shared storage space, for example, on an email server, are provided. A plurality of emails is compared. If the content of each of the plurality of emails is the same, then a single copy is stored on the email server. Further, each recipient of the plurality of emails is enabled access to the stored email via a link to the single copy. Additionally, one or more attachments of the plurality of emails are compared. If an attachment is the same in each of the plurality of emails, then it is stored as a single copy. Further, a link is inserted in each of the plurality of emails, enabling access to the attachment from the single copy.