Network Storage File Caching via Server Broadcast
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional caching mechanisms in network storage systems are not designed to meet user file usage requirements, leading to insufficient caching for offline operations and inconsistencies across multiple devices, as they do not adaptively cache files based on usage patterns and are limited to the device currently in use.
Innovation Solution
A network storage system and method that allows electronic apparatuses to selectively cache files based on usage requirements by broadcasting a cache list from the server, enabling adaptive caching of neighboring files according to available storage space, and synchronizing cache updates across devices to ensure all connected devices have the latest files for offline access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the electronic apparatus caches all files from the network storage space, then the user can perform offline operations on all files, but the electronic apparatus storage space is insufficient to store all files
Solution Approach 1:
The server proactively pushes a cache list containing file usage information to the electronic apparatus before the user needs to perform offline operations. This allows the apparatus to pre-cache only the necessary files (those marked for offline access) rather than all files, resolving the storage space constraint while ensuring sufficient files are available for offline use.
Solution Approach 2:
The caching mechanism differentiates between different files based on their offline access requirements. Files are marked with attributes indicating whether they should be cached for offline access, allowing the system to selectively cache only specific files rather than treating all files uniformly. This optimizes storage space usage while ensuring necessary files are available offline.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the conventional caching mechanism is used, then the electronic apparatus can cache files, but the cached files are insufficient for offline operations because the mechanism is not designed according to file usage requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The server maintains file usage information and uses this feedback to determine which files should be cached on the electronic apparatus. The server pushes cache lists based on actual usage patterns, ensuring that the cached files are precisely those the user needs for offline operations, thereby improving both adaptability and sufficiency of the caching mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically manages file caching without requiring manual user intervention. The server autonomously determines which files to cache based on usage requirements and pushes the cache list to the electronic apparatus, which then automatically caches the appropriate files. This self-service mechanism ensures sufficient cached files while adapting to user needs without manual configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the conventional caching mechanism is present only in the currently used electronic apparatus, then the current device can cache files, but other electronic apparatuses do not have the latest versions of files for offline operations
Solution Approach 1:
The server acts as a central coordination point that manages cache lists for multiple electronic apparatuses. When file usage information is updated on any device, the server pushes updated cache lists to all relevant apparatuses, ensuring that each device has access to the latest file versions for offline operations. This universal approach enables multi-device functionality with consistent file availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements inter-device synchronization through server-mediated feedback. When one electronic apparatus updates file usage information, this feedback is transmitted to the server, which then pushes updated cache lists to other apparatuses. This ensures that all devices receive notifications about file changes and maintain consistent, up-to-date cached files across the entire device ecosystem.
Data Source
AI summary
A network storage system and a method for file caching are provided. The network storage system includes a first electronic apparatus and a server. The first electronic apparatus has a first storage space. The server has a network storage space larger than the first storage space. When the first electronic apparatus sends an access request to the server for accessing a first file within the network storage space, the server broadcasts a cache list in response to the access request. The cache list includes the first file and a plurality of neighboring file neighboring to the first file. After receiving the cache list, the first electronic apparatus accesses the first file according to the cache list, and caches at least one of the neighboring files according to a first cache space size of the first storage space.