Storage System Interface for Consistent Component Interaction

The patent introduces a storage system interface as an intermediary layer between management applications and storage system components. This interface uses entity models to represent storage components abstractly, allowing applications to interact with standardized interfaces rather than detailed implementation specifics. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by providing consistent, simplified access points that mask the underlying complexity of different storage implementations.

The patent creates a universal storage system interface that can interact with multiple types of storage components (storage controllers, storage devices, storage pools) through a common set of entity models and operations. This multi-functional interface allows a single management application to work across different storage system implementations without requiring detailed knowledge of each specific component type, thereby reducing interface complexity while maintaining operational precision.

The patent segments the storage system interface into hierarchical entity models (e.g., storage system, controller, device, pool) with standardized operations at each level. This segmentation allows standard protocols to be implemented at the base level while enabling extensions and variations at higher levels through inheritance and composition. Management applications interact with the standardized upper-level interfaces, achieving both protocol standardization and adaptability to manufacturer-specific extensions.

The patent implements a dynamic interface where entity models can be generated on-demand based on the actual storage system configuration. The interface adapts its behavior based on the specific storage components detected, allowing it to maintain consistency with standard protocols while automatically adjusting to handle manufacturer extensions and variations. This dynamic generation resolves the contradiction by making the interface both standardized and adaptable.

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining a comprehensive set of entity models that represent possible storage components and their relationships before the actual storage system is configured. These pre-defined models include standard operations and attributes that can accommodate various component types and firmware versions. When components are added or replaced, the system matches them against the pre-defined models, allowing the interface to handle component flexibility without increasing operational complexity.

The patent uses copying by creating virtual representations (entity models) of physical storage components. Instead of directly managing the actual components with their varying functionalities, the system creates standardized copies (entity models) that represent the components' abstract characteristics. This copying approach allows the interface to handle component variations uniformly, as all physical components are represented by their corresponding entity model copies, thereby maintaining simplicity despite component flexibility.