Virtual Disk Fragmentation and Replication for Secure Data Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current data protection techniques, such as access restriction and encryption, are inadequate for ensuring the security and integrity of data against unauthorized access and destruction, particularly in virtual disk drives.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual disk devices (VDDs) that utilize fragmentation and encryption of data into fragments distributed across different storage resources, combined with controlled chaos and replication, to enhance security and reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If data is encrypted and stored in a single location, then security is improved, but accessibility and reliability are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides encrypted data into multiple fragments and distributes them across different storage locations. This segmentation allows the system to maintain security while improving accessibility - multiple fragments can be retrieved in parallel from different locations, and the system can tolerate failures at some locations without losing the entire dataset.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical structure where fragments are organized into chunks, which are further organized into bands. This nested organization allows efficient retrieval operations where the system can access specific portions of data without requiring all fragments, improving both accessibility and reliability.
2Reliability
If data is fragmented and distributed across multiple storage locations, then security and reliability are improved, but device complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual disk drive that presents a unified interface to users while managing complex fragment distribution internally. The virtual disk drive software layer handles fragment assembly, encryption, and distribution transparently, allowing the system to provide multiple functions (security, reliability, accessibility) through a single universal interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a virtual disk drive software layer as an intermediary between the user and the physical storage system. This intermediary manages the complexity of fragment distribution, encryption, and retrieval, shielding users from the underlying complexity while maintaining security and reliability.
3Reliability
If multiple replicas of data fragments are created, then reliability is improved, but storage space consumption is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective replication where different fragments have different numbers of replicas based on their importance and access patterns. Critical fragments may have multiple replicas for high availability, while less critical fragments have fewer replicas, optimizing the balance between reliability and storage space utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Mechanisms for storing an input file include: receiving the input file at a virtual disk drive; encrypting the input file into a first instance of an encrypted file; splitting the first instance of the encrypted file into a first plurality of fragments; adding a fragment control structure to each fragment of the first plurality of fragments; and storing each fragment of the first plurality of fragments to a corresponding storage location. Some of the mechanisms further include making an entry in a directory control structure to record the corresponding storage location for each fragment of the first plurality of fragments. Some of the mechanisms further include: creating replicas, wherein each of the replicas is a replica of one of the plurality of fragments; storing replicas to replica storage locations; and recording identifiers of the replica storage locations in the directory control structure.