File System Protocol Routing Platform with Local Reflected Metadata

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network-accessible storage solutions experience increased access latencies due to physical network latencies and the processing of file system commands through the network protocol stack, and they often require separate interfaces for local and network-accessible storage, leading to inconsistent user experiences and management processes.

Innovation Solution

A file system protocol routing platform that maintains a reflected file system structure on local storage, acting as a proxy to route file system protocol traffic and extend file system functionality by providing a unified interface for both local and network-accessible storage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If network-accessible storage is used to augment local storage capacity, then data sharing and storage scalability are improved, but access latency increases due to physical network delays and protocol processing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidaccess latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments file system operations into two parts: metadata operations are handled locally through a reflected file system structure stored in memory, while data operations are handled remotely through the network. This segmentation allows metadata access to occur without network latency, significantly improving access speed for file system operations while maintaining network-accessible storage capacity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A reflected file system structure acts as an intermediary layer between the client and network-accessible storage. This intermediary maintains a local copy of metadata in memory, allowing the system to resolve file system commands without always requiring network communication, thus reducing access latency while preserving the benefits of network storage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate interfaces are used for local and network-accessible storage, then storage location flexibility is improved, but user experience consistency and management simplicity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage location flexibilityVSAvoiduser experience consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The reflected file system structure provides a universal interface that handles both local and network-accessible storage operations through the same file system API. By maintaining a local reflected copy of the network file system metadata, the system enables unified access methods for both storage types, eliminating the need for separate interfaces and providing consistent user experience across different storage locations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS12306803B1File system protocol routing platform having a local reflected copy of a remote file system structure

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 JONES MICHAEL

AI summary

A routing platform coupled to a data network maintains, on local storage of the routing platform, a reflected file system structure corresponding to that of a file system on a network file share. The file system includes a file system object including file system object data, and the reflected file system structure includes a copy of the file system object lacking the file system object data. The routing platform presents, as a proxy, the network file share to a client node communicatively coupled to the routing platform via the data network. The routing platform routes file system protocol traffic between the client node and the network file share, and, if needed, does so by reference to the reflected file system structure.