Quota Manager for Cross-System Data Deletion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional information management systems lack end-user control over data objects across multiple systems, leading to inefficient data management and storage quota management, resulting in excessive data storage footprints and lack of visibility into backup copies.

Innovation Solution

The system provides cross-system, user-level management of data objects and storage quotas, enabling end-users to manage the lifecycle of their data through a unified graphical user interface, allowing selection and deletion of data to meet storage quotas globally across multiple information management systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional information management systems are used without user-level control, then data is automatically retained across multiple systems, but storage costs increase and users lack visibility into backup copies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoiddata storage footprint

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables end-users to autonomously manage their own data objects across multiple information management systems through a unified interface. Users can view, select, and delete their data without requiring administrator intervention, allowing them to control their storage footprint while maintaining data protection through automated backup processes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides users with visibility into their data objects stored across multiple systems through a unified interface. This feedback mechanism allows users to see what data is backed up, where it is stored, and make informed decisions about retention, thereby reducing unnecessary data accumulation while maintaining essential backups

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If centralized administrator control is used for data management, then data protection is maintained, but user productivity decreases due to lack of autonomy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoiduser efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system empowers end-users to independently manage their data objects across multiple information management systems through a unified interface. Users can view, select, and delete their own data without requiring administrator intervention, thereby improving productivity through autonomous action while data protection remains intact through the system's automated backup mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system divides data management authority by separating administrator functions (policy creation, system-wide protection) from user functions (individual data selection and deletion). This segmentation allows users to efficiently manage their own data while administrators maintain overall data protection policies, resolving the contradiction between centralized control and user autonomy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If data is retained across multiple information management systems, then data protection is enhanced, but storage costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata protectionVSAvoidstorage costs

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables users to autonomously review and delete their own data objects across multiple information management systems through a unified interface. This self-service capability allows users to eliminate redundant or unnecessary data copies while maintaining essential protected backups, thereby reducing storage costs without compromising data protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system allows users to selectively discard data objects from secondary storage locations after confirming data protection requirements are met. Users can delete redundant copies across multiple systems while the primary protected copies remain intact, enabling cost-effective data lifecycle management that balances protection with storage optimization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS11113154B2User-level quota management of data objects stored in information management systems

Publication Date: 2021.09.07 COMMVAULT SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed for cross-system user-level management of data objects stored in one or more information management systems, and for user-level management of data storage quotas in information management systems, including data objects in secondary storage. An illustrative quota manager is associated with one or more information management systems. The quota manager comprises a quota value representing the maximum amount of data storage allowed for a given end-user's primary and secondary data in the one or more information management systems. The quota manager determines whether data associated with the end-user has exceeded the storage quota, and if so, prompts the end-user to select data for deletion, the deletion to be implemented globally, across the primary and secondary storage subsystems of the respective one or more information management systems. Meanwhile, so long as the quota is exceeded, the quota manager instructs storage managers to block backups of end-user's data.