Multi-homed Data Forwarding Storage Without Physical Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data storage solutions lack comprehensive failure protection, exposing organizations to risks of data loss or unavailability due to hardware or software failures, and rely on physical storage mediums which add costs and maintenance burdens.
Innovation Solution
A continuous data forwarding system that stores data by continually forwarding it from one node memory to another without using fixed physical storage mediums, utilizing a network of nodes with multiple IP addresses for redundancy and resilience, ensuring data is never fixed on physical storage and is only retrieved when requested by the user.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is stored on physical storage mediums (disk drives, CDs), then data can be persisted and retrieved, but the system becomes vulnerable to hardware failures, software failures, and requires ongoing maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the data from physical storage mediums entirely. Instead of storing data on disk drives or CDs, the system continuously forwards data packets through a network of nodes, keeping data in transit and eliminating dependence on physical storage hardware that can fail.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces network nodes as intermediaries between data source and destination. Multiple nodes forward data packets through the network, creating redundant pathways. If one node or pathway fails, data can still reach its destination through alternative routes, thereby improving reliability while reducing failure risk.
2Ease of manufacture
If data is continuously forwarded through network nodes without physical storage, then maintenance costs are reduced and failure protection is improved, but data must be constantly in motion and requires network infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes ordinary network nodes perform the function of data storage through continuous forwarding. Instead of requiring specialized storage hardware, any network node can participate in data transmission, eliminating maintenance needs while distributing the storage function across the network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical storage mediums (disk drives, tape drives) with an electronic/network-based system. Data is transmitted as electronic packets through the network rather than being physically written to and read from storage media, eliminating mechanical wear and maintenance requirements.
3Reliability
If multiple network addresses are used for data forwarding, then redundancy and failure protection are improved, but network complexity and address management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data into multiple independent packets that can be forwarded through different network nodes and paths. Each packet carries addressing information, allowing them to be routed independently through the network using standard protocols, thereby achieving redundancy without requiring complex custom addressing schemes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates multiple copies of data packets that are distributed through the network via different nodes. Each copy contains the necessary addressing information to reach the destination, providing redundancy while using standard network addressing rather than complex multi-address management.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for multi-homed data forwarding storage. A method includes, in a computer system having multiple non- loopback network addresses, receiving a request to store data, directing the data to a memory location associated with a first non-loopback network address available to receive the data, continuously forwarding the data from the memory location associated with the first non- loopback network address to a memory location associated with another non-loopback network address in the computer system without storing on any physical storage device in the computer system. The continuously forwarding can include detecting a presence of the data in a memory location associated with a specific non-loopback network address, and forwarding the data to another memory location of another non-loopback network address in the computer without storing on any physical storage device.