Ghosted File Storage for Branch Server Space Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method to efficiently manage storage space on computing devices and branch servers by moving data from unused or irrelevant files to an alternate location while maintaining the files in a reduced, 'ghosted' form, allowing for retrieval and reconstitution when needed, to address space constraints and bandwidth issues in data replication.
Innovation Solution
A computing device with a storage volume and file system allows for identifying and moving data from files deemed 'cold' or irrelevant to an alternate location, maintaining the files in a ghosted form on the storage volume with metadata that includes information for retrieval, enabling reconstitution when required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If data is moved from cold files to an alternate location to free space on the storage volume, then storage space is improved, but the complexity of the system increases due to the need to maintain ghosted file references and enable reconstitution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file data into two parts: a small ghosted reference structure remaining on the storage volume and the bulk of the actual data stored at an alternate location. This segmentation allows the storage volume to be freed while maintaining a manageable reference structure that enables reconstitution of the full file when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the bulk of the file data from the storage volume and relocates it to an alternate location, while leaving behind a reduced ghosted form containing only essential references. This extraction process frees up significant storage space while maintaining the ability to reconstruct the full file by retrieving the extracted data.
2Reliability
If files are replicated to multiple branch locations to ensure availability, then reliability is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases due to the need to transmit all file data to each location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file replication process into creating ghosted references at each branch location rather than replicating the entire file data. Each branch server stores only a small ghosted form of the file with references to the actual data location, significantly reducing the amount of data that needs to be transmitted over the network while maintaining file availability at all branches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates ghosted copies of files at multiple branch locations that contain minimal reference data rather than full file copies. These ghosted copies enable the file system to locate and retrieve the actual file data from a central location when needed at any branch, reducing network bandwidth requirements while maintaining reliability.
3Ease of operation
If the entire file data is stored at each branch location to ensure local access, then ease of operation is improved, but the storage capacity required at each location increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file storage into a small ghosted reference structure stored locally at each branch and the bulk of the actual data stored at a central location. This segmentation allows branch servers to maintain minimal local storage requirements while still providing local file access capability through the ghosted references that enable quick retrieval of the full file data when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A computing device has a file stored on a storage volume by a file system and accessed through such file system. The file is defined to include data and metadata relating to the data, and at least a portion of the data of the file is removed from the file and stored at an alternate location such that the data does not occupy substantially any space on the volume and the file is in a reduced, ghosted form. The ghosted file is reconstituted for use by retrieving the data from the alternate location and associating such retrieved data with such ghosted file to form the reconstituted file.