Pipelined File Server Data Transmission
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current data transmission methods to multiple client systems are slow and inefficient, often requiring additional hardware like SAN or NAS, and may violate data management policies, especially when clients relay data to each other.
Innovation Solution
A method that divides data into equal or variable-sized portions and transmits them from a file server to multiple client systems through a pipeline, where each file server relays the data to another, without storing it permanently, thus optimizing data transmission using existing hardware and adhering to data management policies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is transmitted sequentially from a single file server to multiple client systems, then data management policies are maintained and existing hardware is used, but data transmission speed is slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a block of data into multiple equal-size portions and transmits them through a pipeline architecture. File servers relay portions to each other concurrently, with the first file server sending to the first client system while simultaneously relaying to the second file server, which then sends to the second client system. This segmentation enables parallel transmission paths, dramatically increasing data transmission speed without requiring additional hardware storage resources.
2Productivity
If additional hardware like SAN or NAS is used to speed up data transmission, then data transmission efficiency improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing file servers perform multiple functions: they act as both data sources and relay nodes in the transmission pipeline. Instead of requiring dedicated SAN or NAS hardware, the file servers themselves are utilized to relay data portions to each other and to client systems. This multi-functionality approach achieves high-speed parallel transmission using existing infrastructure, avoiding additional hardware complexity and cost.
3Productivity
If clients relay data to each other to speed up transmission, then data transmission efficiency improves, but data management policies are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces file servers as intermediary relay nodes between client systems. Instead of allowing client systems to directly relay data to each other (which would violate data management policies), the file servers act as authorized intermediaries that handle the relaying. This maintains policy compliance while enabling the pipeline architecture and concurrent transmission that improves data transmission efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A block of data intended for a set of receiving computer systems comprising a first system and a second system is divided into a set of equal-size portions. A first portion of the set of portions is transmitted from a first file server storing the block of data to the first system. The first portion is relayed from the first file server to a second file server concurrently with the transmitting. The first portion of the set of portions is transmitted from the second file server to the second system.