Synthesizing Virtual Hard Drives via Metadata Linking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional virtual hard drives face inefficiencies such as lengthy data copying processes and compatibility issues due to different structures and formats, making it difficult to unify or seamlessly use multiple virtual hard drives.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for synthesizing virtual hard drives by identifying data objects as sources, generating metadata, and associating it with the data objects to direct requests for metadata and content, allowing for the creation of a synthetic virtual hard drive that can simulate multiple data sources without copying data, enabling rapid creation and booting of virtual machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional virtual hard drives are created by copying data from physical hard drives, then the virtual hard drives can be transmitted and shared over networks, but the data copying process takes an extended period of time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying by creating a virtual hard drive that is a representation of a physical hard drive, where the virtual hard drive contains metadata and a pointer to the physical hard drive location rather than duplicating all data. This allows the virtual hard drive to be copied and transmitted quickly over networks while the actual data remains on the physical hard drive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the virtual hard drive structure with metadata and pointers) between the physical hard drive and the network transmission process. This intermediary allows data to be referenced without being physically copied, resolving the contradiction between ease of transmission and time consumption.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple virtual hard drives with different structures and formats are created, then they can represent different data sources, but they cannot be unified or used together in a quick and seamless manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal virtual hard drive structure that can represent multiple different data sources (physical hard drives, volumes, snapshots, images, partitions) through a common metadata format. This universal structure allows different data sources to be unified and used together seamlessly through the same interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by storing metadata that describes the structure, format, and location of underlying data sources. By changing and storing these parameters in a standardized format, the system can represent diverse data sources uniformly and access them through a consistent interface.
3Adaptability or versatility
If virtual hard drives are created as representations of physical hard drives, then they enable a single physical hard drive to simulate multiple hard drives, but the creation process involves copying large amounts of data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies copying selectively by creating a virtual hard drive that copies only the essential metadata and structural information needed to represent the physical hard drive, rather than copying the entire data set. This allows the simulation of multiple hard drives with minimal data copying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the virtual hard drive into two parts: a small metadata section that describes the structure and location, and a pointer/reference to the actual data on the physical hard drive. This segmentation allows the virtual representation to be created quickly while maintaining the ability to simulate multiple hard drives.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer-implemented method for synthesizing virtual hard drives may include (1) identifying a data object as an underlying source for synthesizing a virtual hard drive to store data within the data object, (2) generating hard drive metadata for the synthetic virtual hard drive, (3) synthesizing the virtual hard drive as a representation of a virtual hard drive by associating the generated hard drive metadata with the data object as the underlying source such that a data management system is configured to: (a) direct requests for hard drive metadata of the synthetic virtual hard drive to the generated hard drive metadata, and (b) direct requests for hard drive content of the synthetic virtual hard drive to the data object as the underlying source for the synthetic virtual hard drive. Various other methods, systems, and computer-readable media are also disclosed.