Object Metadata Store Integrity Check and Reconstruction

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Corrupted metadata poses challenges in data restoration, as it hinders the efficient recovery of data, similar to how data corruption does.

Innovation Solution

A method that involves checking the integrity of the object metadata store, reconstructing it if corrupted, and using the reconstructed metadata to restore the associated object from the object store based on the provided object identifier.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If metadata is used to facilitate rapid data restoration, then restoration efficiency is improved, but metadata may become corrupted and hinder restoration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestoration efficiencyVSAvoidmetadata integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by checking metadata integrity before restoration operations and proactively detecting corruption. Integrity checks are executed in advance to identify corrupted metadata before it can impede the restoration process, allowing for early intervention and reconstruction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system converts the harmful effect of corrupted metadata into a beneficial process by automatically detecting corruption and triggering reconstruction procedures. The corruption detection mechanism transforms what would be a restoration-blocking issue into an opportunity to rebuild and verify metadata integrity, ultimately improving system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Reliability

If metadata store is reconstructed when corrupted, then restoration reliability is improved, but additional processing time is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverestoration reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by reconstructing only the corrupted portions of metadata rather than performing full rebuilds. Integrity checks identify specific corrupted metadata entries, and reconstruction is targeted to those specific areas, reducing the time overhead while maintaining restoration reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The metadata store performs self-service by automatically detecting its own corruption through integrity checks and triggering self-reconstruction procedures. This autonomous detection and repair mechanism eliminates the need for external intervention and minimizes manual processing time while ensuring restoration reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11669413B2Object metadata maintenance pertinent to object restoration

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC

AI summary

A method and system for object metadata maintenance pertinent to object restoration. Concerning the realm of data protection, metadata, descriptive of data, may be considered as critical, if not more, than the data being protected itself. Metadata, amongst other purposes, may facilitate the rapid and/or efficient restoration of the data. Like data, metadata may also be susceptible to corruption due to various reasons. With corrupted metadata, restoration of the data may prove challenging. Accordingly, the disclosed method and system propose a framework through which metadata, if corrupted partially or wholly, may be repaired or rebuilt, respectively, using the data itself as references.