Just-in-time Remote Storage Allocation for Flash Drives

The patent creates virtual copies of storage capacity through virtual storage volumes that can be allocated and de-allocated dynamically. Instead of provisioning physical disks for potential future needs, the system creates virtual storage representations that can be instantiated when needed and removed when not needed, eliminating the need to purchase physical disks for speculative purposes.

The system implements dynamic storage provisioning where virtual storage volumes can be created, expanded, contracted, or removed based on actual demand. This dynamic approach replaces the static under-provisioning strategy with a flexible system that adapts storage capacity to real-time requirements, allowing organizations to maintain high availability without committing to permanent physical disk purchases.

The patent uses virtual storage volumes as copies or representations of physical storage capacity. These virtual volumes can be allocated to meet future storage needs without actually provisioning the physical disks in advance. When storage is needed, virtual volumes are created and mapped to available physical capacity; when not needed, they remain unallocated, eliminating waste of unused physical storage resources.

The system performs preliminary allocation of virtual storage volumes without committing physical resources. Organizations can plan and allocate virtual storage capacity in advance based on forecasted needs, but the actual physical disks are only provisioned when the virtual volumes are activated, allowing advance planning without the penalty of unused physical capacity.

The patent introduces a virtualization layer that adds an abstract dimension between physical storage and user access. This virtual dimension allows storage capacity to be expanded or contracted independently of physical disk additions. Virtual storage volumes can be created, merged, or removed through software operations, providing scalability without requiring proportional changes to physical infrastructure.

The virtual storage system provides universal access to storage capacity across multiple applications and users. A single pool of physical storage disks can serve multiple virtual volumes and users simultaneously, with the ability to dynamically reallocate capacity. This multi-functional approach allows limited physical resources to meet diverse and changing storage demands, achieving scalability through efficient resource sharing rather than resource multiplication.