Virtual Defragmentation Map for Storage Backup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Image backup methods often result in file fragmentation during restoration, leading to negative impacts on read and write performance due to their lack of awareness about file system metadata and file locations, causing files to remain fragmented in the restore storage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves virtual defragmentation by intercepting move commands, updating a virtual defragmentation map to record actual and defragmentation locations, and allowing file system metadata to falsely reflect block movements, thus avoiding actual block relocations and enabling faster, less resource-intensive defragmentation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If image backup is used to backup all allocated blocks, then backup speed is improved and file system awareness is reduced, but file fragmentation occurs during restoration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebackup speedVSAvoidfile organization integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual copy of the defragmented file system metadata state without actually moving physical blocks. The virtual defragmentation map stores the mapping between original block locations and defragmented block locations, allowing the backup to reflect a defragmented state while the actual storage remains unchanged. This resolves the contradiction by enabling fast image backup while maintaining file organization integrity through the virtual mapping layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual defragmentation map acts as an intermediary between the file system metadata and the actual block storage. It translates file system requests for defragmented block locations into the corresponding original block locations, allowing the system to present a defragmented view without actual block movement. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the logical file organization from physical block placement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If actual defragmentation is performed by moving blocks, then file read and write performance is improved, but system resource consumption and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile read and write performanceVSAvoiddefragmentation time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of physically moving blocks during defragmentation, the patent creates a virtual copy of the defragmented state through the virtual defragmentation map. The map stores the mapping relationships between original and defragmented block locations, allowing the system to present a defragmented view without actual data movement. This resolves the contradiction by achieving the performance benefits of defragmentation without the time cost of physical block relocation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical block movement process with a software-based virtual mapping mechanism. Instead of physically relocating data blocks on storage media, the system uses the virtual defragmentation map to redirect file system access to the appropriate original blocks. This substitution eliminates the time-consuming mechanical movement while maintaining the performance benefits of defragmentation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Stability of the object's composition

If actual defragmentation is performed by moving blocks, then file organization is improved, but system resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefile organizationVSAvoidsystem resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a virtual representation of defragmented file organization through the virtual defragmentation map rather than physically reorganizing blocks. The map stores the mapping between original and defragmented block locations, allowing the system to maintain improved file organization logically without the resource-intensive physical rearrangement. This resolves the contradiction by achieving better file organization with minimal resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The virtual defragmentation map serves as an intermediary that provides the benefits of improved file organization without requiring actual block movement. It translates file system requests based on defragmented locations into accesses to original block locations, maintaining stable file organization logically while avoiding the resource consumption of physical reorganization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8966207B1Virtual defragmentation of a storage

Publication Date: 2015.02.24 STORAGECRAFT LLC

AI summary

Virtual defragmentation of a storage. In one example embodiment, a method for virtual defragmentation of a storage includes various steps. For example, the method includes intercepting a move command directed to a storage during a defragmentation of the storage. The move command specifies an actual location of a block and a defrag location for the block in the storage. The method also includes updating a virtual defragmentation map to record the actual location of the block and the defrag location for the block. The method further includes preventing the block from being moved to the defrag location. The method also includes allowing file system metadata of the storage to be updated to falsely reflect that the block has been moved to the defrag location.