Multimedia Storage Segmentation by Access Frequency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data storage systems store multimedia assets in a way that frequently accessed and important portions are slowed down due to being stored on the same location, and they treat all assets equally in terms of importance, leading to inefficient access and protection.

Innovation Solution

The system divides storage drives into chunks with associated performance and reliability scores, allowing multimedia assets to be stored based on importance levels and access frequency, ensuring faster access to frequently used parts and higher protection for critical assets by distributing them across different chunks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If all multimedia assets are stored on the same storage location, then storage management is simplified, but access speed to frequently used portions is slowed down

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess speedVSAvoidstorage management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides storage drives into multiple chunks with different performance and reliability scores. Multimedia assets are segmented and distributed across these chunks based on their importance and access frequency requirements. This segmentation enables different portions of assets to be stored in optimally located chunks, improving access speed for frequently used portions while maintaining simplified centralized storage management through automated distribution algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If all multimedia assets are treated with the same protection level, then protection policy is simplified, but critical assets are not sufficiently protected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveasset protection levelVSAvoidprotection policy complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent assigns different reliability scores to different chunks within the storage system. Critical multimedia assets are automatically directed to chunks with higher reliability scores, while less important assets are stored in chunks with lower reliability scores. This local differentiation of protection levels ensures critical assets receive enhanced protection through distributed storage across multiple high-reliability chunks, while maintaining simplified uniform protection policies through automated classification and distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If frequently accessed portions are stored on the same location as important portions, then storage space is optimized, but access performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidaccess performance
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments multimedia assets into different portions and distributes them across multiple chunks based on their access frequency and importance characteristics. Frequently accessed portions are placed in chunks optimized for fast access, while important but less frequently accessed portions are placed in chunks with higher reliability. This segmentation maintains storage efficiency through compact distribution while improving access performance by locating frequently used data in optimal storage locations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically determines the optimal chunk locations for different asset portions based on their access patterns and importance levels. The distribution strategy adapts to changing access requirements, allowing the system to optimize both storage efficiency and access performance dynamically rather than using static allocation. This dynamic approach ensures that storage resources are continuously optimized for current usage patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS10649655B2Data storage system with multimedia assets
Publication Date: 2020.05.12 WESTERN DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES INC
  • US10649655B2 patent drawing
  • US10649655B2 patent drawing
  • US10649655B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for storing multimedia assets (or other data objects) in a storage array. Portions of the multimedia asset may be stored on different chunks of the storage drives in the storage array based on an access frequency level for a portion, an importance level for the portion, a reliability score for a chunk, and a performance score for the chunk.