WORM File Designation via Timestamp Anomaly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WORM storage solutions are costly and complex, particularly in setting and managing retention periods for individual data pieces, as they often require non-standard interfaces and multiple operations, making it inefficient to protect data from modification or deletion.
Innovation Solution
A system that designates a file as WORM by configuring a time attribute to a value outside its typical range, allowing a single command to commit a file as WORM and set a retention period, using existing file system attributes like modification time, status change time, or access time to indicate a WORM retention period, ensuring data permanence until the specified period expires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical storage is used for WORM storage, then data permanence is improved, but storage cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of storage media from optical to magnetic, and changes the protection mechanism from inherent media properties to software-based file attributes and timestamps. This allows using cheaper magnetic storage while maintaining WORM properties through system-level controls rather than relying on expensive optical media
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a logical copy of WORM protection through file attributes and metadata rather than relying on physical media properties. The WORM properties are copied onto the file system level through attributes that indicate retention periods, allowing standard magnetic storage to provide WORM functionality
2Reliability
If non-standard interfaces are used to protect individual data pieces, then data protection capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the file system interface universal by using standard file attributes (timestamps, permissions) that already exist in conventional file systems. Instead of requiring specialized WORM interfaces, the system uses multi-functional existing attributes to indicate WORM status and retention periods, making the solution applicable to standard file systems without additional complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of creating new specialized interfaces for WORM protection, the patent inverts the approach by using existing standard file system attributes in a novel way. File timestamps and attributes that normally serve standard purposes are repurposed to indicate WORM status and retention periods, eliminating the need for non-standard interfaces
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple operations are used to set retention period, then WORM configuration capability is improved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple operations (setting WORM status, setting retention period, configuring file attributes) into a single atomic operation. When a file is marked with a future timestamp or WORM attribute, the system simultaneously configures all necessary parameters in one step, eliminating the need for multiple separate operations and reducing operational complexity
4Measurement precision
If multiple attributes are used to flag WORM files, then WORM identification accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the WORM identification into hierarchical levels: first using file attributes to identify WORM-candidate files, then using timestamps to determine retention status. This segmentation allows accurate identification while keeping processing simple by breaking down the identification process into manageable stages rather than requiring complex multi-attribute evaluation
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for providing write-once-read-many (WORM) storage are described herein. According to one embodiment, in response to a command to set a time attribute of a file to a first predetermined value, it is determined whether the first predetermined value is outside of an ordinary range of values associated with the time attribute in accordance with a file system associated with the file. The file is designated as a WORM file and a WORM retention period is set for the file based on the first predetermined value, if the first predetermined value is outside of an ordinary range of values associated with the time attribute. The designation of the file as a WORM file and setting the WORM retention period are performed in response to the command.