Distributed Storage Transactions Using Lock Tokens Instead of Global Locks

The patent segments the centralized lock mechanism into distributed lock tokens that are allocated to individual authorities. Each authority receives a token that enables it to perform transactions without acquiring a global lock. This segmentation allows parallel transaction processing across multiple authorities while maintaining consistency through token validation, thereby resolving the contradiction between system consistency and throughput.

The patent introduces lock tokens as intermediary objects that mediate between the need for consistent state management and the requirement for high throughput. Instead of directly implementing a global lock that blocks all transactions, the system uses tokens as intermediaries that carry authorization information, allowing transactions to proceed in parallel while still enforcing consistency constraints through token-based validation.

The patent implements a universal authority model where authorities can handle multiple types of storage devices (HDD, SSD, flash memory) through a common interface. The distributed authority architecture provides a universal framework that maintains compatibility with traditional storage operations while simultaneously enabling specialized optimizations for different storage media types, allowing the system to serve multiple functions without sacrificing adaptability.

The patent applies local quality by allowing different storage nodes and authorities to have specialized configurations optimized for their specific storage media while maintaining a uniform global interface. Each authority can be tuned to leverage the unique characteristics of its local storage (e.g., flash memory endurance, SSD caching patterns) while the overall system presents a consistent compatibility layer to clients.