Remote DVR File Allocation Table Shared Cluster Indexing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remote digital video recording systems face inefficiencies due to replication of large media files, leading to increased storage costs and reduced flexibility in managing media content, especially when multiple users record the same content, as existing systems require each user to have their own separate file, resulting in redundant data storage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a remote storage digital video recording system that uses a file allocation table to create distinguishable file entries for each user, while indexing the same clusters of data, thereby storing the actual content only once and maintaining separate file entries for each user, optimizing storage space without violating regulatory requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each user is provided with their own separate file for recorded content, then legal compliance and user-specific access control are maintained, but storage space is wasted due to redundant data replication
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple user files that point to the same data clusters into a single shared data storage location. The file allocation table is modified to allow multiple file entries to reference the same cluster addresses, enabling multiple users to have their own file metadata while sharing the actual data storage, thus eliminating redundant data replication while maintaining user-specific access control and legal compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The file allocation table structure is enhanced to provide multi-functionality: it maintains separate file entries for each user (preserving user-specific metadata and access control) while simultaneously allowing these entries to reference shared data clusters (enabling storage efficiency). This universal structure supports both legal compliance requirements and storage optimization goals
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate file copies are created for each user recording the same content, then user-specific file access and legal restrictions are satisfied, but system storage efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file structure into two distinct parts: file metadata (stored separately for each user in the file allocation table) and actual data (stored once in shared clusters). This segmentation allows user-specific access control to be maintained through separate file entries while the actual data is efficiently shared, improving storage efficiency without compromising user-specific file access capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of copying actual data for each user, the patent creates copies only of the file metadata (file allocation table entries) while the actual data is referenced through shared cluster addresses. This selective copying approach maintains user-specific file access and legal restriction compliance while avoiding redundant data storage, thereby improving storage efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
A remote storage digital video recording system (300) comprises a storage server (310). The storage server can include a memory (412) and a control circuit (410) operable with the memory. The storage server can be in communication across a network (311) with one or more client devices (306,307,308). The control circuit can be configured to create a file allocation table (314) to organize clusters (330) of a computer readable medium (308). The file allocation table can include a plurality of distinguishable file entries (320,321,322). Each of the distinguishable file entries can index clusters of the computer readable medium. At least two of the plurality of distinguishable file entries can index selfsame clusters (331) of the computer readable medium.