Storage Resource Management for Cloud Data Persistence

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing storage systems face challenges in efficiently managing data across multiple storage devices, particularly in ensuring data persistence, reliability, and scalability in cloud-based environments.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves a storage system architecture that utilizes a plurality of block storage devices, with application-aware storage methods that include direct-mapped flash storage systems, zoned storage devices, and dual PCI flash storage devices. This architecture offloads device management responsibilities from storage drives, employs non-volatile RAM as a buffer for write operations, and implements erasure coding and mirroring for data redundancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If applications are allowed to directly access shared storage resources without constraints, then application performance and data access speed are improved, but storage resources may be overconsumed leading to system instability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access speedVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a storage resource management system that acts as an intermediary between applications and shared storage resources. This mediator monitors storage consumption, enforces policies, and prevents overconsumption while maintaining efficient data access. The intermediary layer balances performance needs with resource protection, resolving the contradiction between speed and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If storage resources are heavily utilized to maximize capacity, then storage efficiency is improved, but the system becomes vulnerable to resource exhaustion and failure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage efficiencyVSAvoidsystem reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preventive measures by establishing storage consumption thresholds and policies before resource exhaustion occurs. The system proactively monitors usage patterns, predicts potential overconsumption, and takes corrective actions in advance. This cushioning approach maintains high storage efficiency while preventing catastrophic failure, resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Loss of time

If storage access is highly optimized for performance, then write latency is reduced, but data consistency and persistence may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewrite latencyVSAvoiddata persistence
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs preliminary actions by pre-establishing data persistence policies, redundancy mechanisms, and consistency protocols before write operations occur. The system prepares persistence structures in advance and uses buffering strategies that maintain data integrity while optimizing write performance. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction between minimizing time loss and ensuring reliable data persistence.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS20250138745A1Preventing Applications From Overconsuming Shared Storage Resources
Publication Date: 2025.05.01 PURE STORAGE INC
  • US20250138745A1 patent drawing
  • US20250138745A1 patent drawing
  • US20250138745A1 patent drawing

AI summary

Preventing applications from overconsuming shared storage resources, including: identifying one or more sub-regions of data stored on a storage device that are associated with an application of a known application type; compiling information describing the application's utilization of a storage system; determining that a storage system objective has not been met; and initiating, based on the information describing the application's utilization of the storage system, remediation actions.