Unified Storage Access for Block, File, and Object Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing storage technologies cannot manage block data and file data uniformly, leading to separate access and management of these data types, which complicates storage operations.
Innovation Solution
A computer system with multiple virtual machines processes block, file, and object accesses, allowing for unified management of block data, file data, and object data by converting consecutive blocks and files into objects for storage, enabling transparent access and efficient resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate devices are used for block data access and file data access, then each data type can be accessed with dedicated optimization, but device complexity increases and resource utilization decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines block data access and file data access into a single storage device by implementing a file management unit within the storage device that can convert between block data and file data. This allows one device to handle both access types, reducing the need for separate dedicated devices while maintaining access reliability through specialized processing units for each data type.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is designed with multi-functionality to handle both block data access and file data access. The file management unit enables the device to convert block data to file data and vice versa, allowing a single device to perform multiple functions that previously required separate dedicated devices, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining specialized access capabilities.
2Ease of operation
If block data is converted to file data for unified management, then data management becomes simpler, but conversion overhead and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The file management unit performs preliminary actions by maintaining data in both block and file formats simultaneously or pre-converting data before access requests arrive. This allows the system to have data ready in the appropriate format, reducing conversion time when actual access occurs while still enabling unified management through the file management interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The file management unit acts as an intermediary between block data access requests and file data access requests. It handles the conversion process transparently, mediating between the two data formats to provide unified management without requiring end users to be aware of the conversion overhead, as the intermediary optimizes the conversion process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple virtual machines are used to process different access types, then access transparency is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple virtual machines into a single storage device by implementing a file management unit that consolidates block data processing and file data processing capabilities. This allows the storage device itself to virtualize and handle multiple access types without requiring separate physical virtual machines, reducing system complexity while maintaining access versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The storage device is designed with universal capabilities to process both block data access and file data access through its file management unit. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate specialized devices or virtual machines for each access type, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining the versatility to handle different access patterns transparently.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer which is connected to a network and has a CPU and a plurality of storages, and which is capable of executing a plurality of virtual machines, wherein: the CPU acts as a first virtual machine so as to process a block access request received via the network; the CPU also acts as a second virtual machine so as to process a file access request received via the network; and the CPU also acts as a third virtual machine so as to process an object access request received via the network, and accesses a third storage.