File Portion Weight-Based Storage Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Information handling systems face inefficiencies in storage due to data deduplication, where corruption or failure of a common data portion can lead to corruption of all linked data files, and existing methods do not effectively manage storage resources to ensure reliability and cost-effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

An information handling system with a processor that determines the weight of file portions and stores them on more reliable storage resources if the number of copies exceeds a predetermined threshold, using a method to allocate copies based on weight and reliability, ensuring data integrity and efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If data deduplication is implemented to reduce storage resources, then storage efficiency is improved, but data reliability deteriorates because corruption of a common data portion corrupts all linked data files

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage resourcesVSAvoiddata reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating the storage location of common data portions based on their importance. Critical common data portions are stored on reliable storage resources while less critical portions are stored on less reliable resources. This is achieved by determining a weight for each common data portion based on the number of data files that would be corrupted if that portion is corrupted, and then selecting storage resources accordingly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements beforehand cushioning by proactively storing critical common data portions on reliable storage resources before any corruption occurs. The system calculates the potential impact of corruption in advance and prepares appropriate storage protection, rather than reacting after corruption happens. This preventive approach ensures that data files are protected from corruption by anticipating potential failures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Reliability

If multiple copies of file portions are stored on reliable storage resources, then data reliability is improved, but storage cost and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata reliabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by selectively storing only critical common data portions on reliable storage resources, rather than uniformly protecting all data. The weight-based classification system identifies which common data portions warrant expensive reliable storage based on their corruption impact, thereby optimizing the balance between reliability and energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of storage resource selection based on the calculated weight of each common data portion. By dynamically adjusting which storage resource type is used based on the criticality parameter, the system optimizes the trade-off between reliability and power consumption, avoiding the energy waste of protecting all data equally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If all common data portions are stored on reliable storage resources, then data integrity is improved, but storage efficiency and cost-effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidstorage efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating storage protection based on the specific characteristics of each common data portion. Instead of uniform protection, the system evaluates the weight (impact of corruption) of each portion and applies appropriate storage resources, thereby achieving necessary data integrity while maximizing storage efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by protecting only the necessary portion of common data portions with expensive reliable storage resources. Rather than applying full protection to all data, the system selectively protects only those portions where the benefit of high reliability justifies the cost, achieving cost-effective data integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10191910B2Systems and methods for improving storage efficiency in an information handling system

Publication Date: 2019.01.29 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

Systems and methods for improving storage efficiency in an information handling system are provided. In some embodiments, an information handling system including an increased storage efficiency is provided. The information handling system may include a processor associated with a first storage resource and a plurality of second storage resources, where the first storage resource is more reliable than the plurality of second storage resources. The processor may be configured to determine a weight of a file portion, determine a number of copies of the file portion to be stored based at least on the determined weight, and store a copy of the file portion on the first storage resource if the determined number of copies of the file portion is greater than a predetermined storage threshold.