Router-Assisted Dispersed Storage for Data Integrity and Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data storage systems face challenges with data integrity and security due to the failure of physical movement-based memory devices, such as disc drives, which can lead to data loss and increased maintenance demands, while redundant array configurations like RAID address these issues but introduce security and efficiency concerns.
Innovation Solution
A distributed storage network system that employs error-coded data slices stored across multiple geographically diverse locations, using a routing layer to manage and retrieve data securely and reliably, ensuring data integrity and availability through error correction and dispersal techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If physical movement-based memory devices (disc drives) are used for data storage, then data storage capacity is achieved, but data integrity and security deteriorate due to device failure and bit level corruption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides data into multiple slices and distributes them across different storage devices and locations. This segmentation ensures that failure of any single device does not result in complete data loss, as other slices remain intact and can be used for recovery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a routing layer as an intermediary between data sources and storage devices. This routing layer manages data distribution, tracks slice locations, and coordinates recovery operations, thereby improving overall system reliability and data integrity.
2Reliability
If redundant array configurations (RAID) are used to address data loss, then data security is improved, but storage efficiency deteriorates due to overhead and maintenance demands
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of traditional RAID blocks, the patent segments data into slices distributed across multiple devices. This approach provides redundancy similar to RAID but with better storage efficiency, as only the necessary overhead for slice distribution and error correction is required, not full redundant arrays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the redundancy parameter from traditional RAID parity blocks to distributed error-correcting codes applied to data slices. This allows for flexible redundancy levels and improves storage efficiency while maintaining data security through mathematical error correction rather than simple duplication.
3Speed
If data is stored in centralized locations, then access speed is improved, but data availability deteriorates due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments data across multiple geographically diverse storage locations rather than centralizing it. This distribution ensures data availability continues even if some locations fail, while the routing layer optimizes access paths to maintain acceptable access speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds the dimension of geographic distribution to data storage, placing slices in multiple locations rather than single centralized storage. This multi-dimensional approach to data placement improves availability while the routing layer manages access optimization across the distributed system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method begins by a router receiving a data packet and determining a destination of the data packet. The method continues with the router determining whether the router has an affiliation with the destination. The method continues with the router determining whether to temporarily locally store the data packet when the router has the affiliation with the destination. The method continues with the router locally storing the data packet and forwarding the data packet to the destination in accordance with a transfer protocol when the determination to temporarily locally store the data packet is favorable.