Selective Data Block Duplication in Cold Storage Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cold storage systems, such as tape and optical disk storage, face inefficiencies due to the need to frequently change media during data access, which increases access time and reduces capacity efficiency, as they require isolating media and drives, leading to slower data retrieval compared to integrated SSD or HDD systems.
Innovation Solution
A data storage apparatus that calculates the ratio of data blocks across multiple media based on dimension information to determine which blocks should be duplicated and stored on other media, minimizing the need for media changes by strategically arranging data to reduce access time while maintaining capacity efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If data is stored across multiple media in cold storage, then capacity efficiency is improved, but access time increases due to frequent media changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of data access patterns and proactively duplicates data blocks that are likely to be accessed across different media. By predicting which data blocks will need to be accessed and duplicating them in advance on the same or frequently accessed media, the system reduces the need for media changes during actual access operations, thereby decreasing access time while maintaining capacity efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates copies of specific data blocks and stores them on multiple media. By duplicating data blocks that are frequently accessed or likely to be accessed across different media, the system ensures that data can be retrieved without requiring media changes. This copying strategy maintains capacity efficiency by selectively duplicating only necessary data blocks while improving access time.
2Loss of time
If media changes are reduced in cold storage, then access time decreases, but capacity efficiency may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of duplicating all data blocks, the system applies partial action by selectively duplicating only those data blocks that are likely to be accessed across multiple media. The system calculates the ratio of data blocks and identifies specific blocks for duplication based on access patterns and predictions. This partial duplication approach maintains capacity efficiency while still reducing media changes and improving access time for critical data.
3Loss of time
If data blocks are selectively duplicated based on ratio calculation, then access time is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by calculating the ratio of data blocks and using this metric to determine which blocks should be duplicated. By establishing clear parameter thresholds and duplication criteria based on ratio calculations, the system optimizes access time through intelligent data placement while managing complexity through systematic parameter-based decision making rather than ad-hoc approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A processor controls a second storage device including a plurality of media that store data stored in a first storage device. The processor calculates a ratio of the size of each of a plurality of data blocks, which are classified according to a plurality of pieces of dimension information in data stored in two or more of the plurality of media, to the amount of data stored in the two or more of the plurality of media. The processor determines, based on a calculated ratio, whether a data block is to be duplicated, generates a duplicate of the data block determined to be duplicated, and stores the generated duplicate of the data block into another medium of the plurality of media, except for the two or more media. This can reduce the number of times of changing a medium, and suppress a lowering in the capacity efficiency. Dimension information may be an axis of obtaining data. In additionally disclosed embodiments, data may be arranged based on data blocks originally generated for reliability and considering the axis of obtaining data, and data at an end portion of a medium may be redundantly stored in the front or top portion of a subsequent medium.