NAS Off-Loading Large File Traffic to Remote Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
NAS devices face bandwidth issues when sharing large files, as direct downloads from the device can reduce network performance, and users want a seamless sharing process without managing the underlying mechanics.
Innovation Solution
The NAS device uploads large files or their portions to remote storage services like cloud storage, providing share recipients with links to access the files, thereby offloading network traffic and allowing seamless sharing without direct streaming or downloads from the NAS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If large files are shared directly from NAS device, then file sharing functionality is provided, but network bandwidth is consumed and performance is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the large file data from the NAS device and stores it in remote storage services. When sharing is needed, only metadata and access links are provided to recipients, while the actual file data resides remotely. This separation removes the bandwidth burden from the local network while preserving file sharing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces remote storage services as an intermediary between the NAS device and share recipients. The remote storage acts as a mediator that handles the actual file data transmission, while the NAS device only manages metadata and sharing permissions. This intermediary approach protects the local network from bandwidth consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple recipients access large files simultaneously, then sharing capability is enhanced, but network bandwidth is overwhelmed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts file data from the NAS and places it in remote storage, enabling multiple recipients to access files simultaneously without competing for local network bandwidth. Each recipient receives a link to the remote storage location, and file transfers occur over the internet rather than the local network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves file sharing from the local network dimension to the internet dimension by using remote storage services. This dimensional shift allows unlimited concurrent access without constraining the local network bandwidth, as all file transfers occur externally through the remote storage provider's infrastructure.
3Speed
If NAS device streams large files directly, then immediate file access is provided, but device performance is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts large files from the NAS device to remote storage services. The NAS device then only needs to provide metadata and access links, which are small in size. This extraction allows the NAS to respond quickly to sharing requests without the performance burden of streaming large files directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by uploading large files to remote storage services in advance. This pre-positioning of data allows rapid sharing initiation, as the NAS device only needs to provide access links rather than stream the actual file data. The heavy lifting of data transfer occurs beforehand or externally.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may comprise storage, a network interface configured to couple the device to a computer network and a processor connected to the storage and to the network interface. The processor may be configured to store a file in the storage, divide the file into at least a first and second part, send the first part of the file to a first selected remote storage coupled to the computer network and send the second part of the file to a second selected remote storage coupled to the computer network, the second remote storage being different from the first remote storage, such that, responsive to receiving, over the network, a request from a requestor to access the file, the first part of the file is provided to the requestor from the first remote storage and the second part of the file is provided to the requestor from the second remote storage.