Methods and systems for virtualizing and managing cloud storage sources

• US 10,031,916 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2014
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Cox, Claude Lano, Quinn, Liam B., Welker, Mark W., Ancona, Rocco
• Primary Examiner(s): BOWEN, RICHARD L
• Application Number:
  US14/308,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20150373109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/122 using management policies backup systems G06F11/1446; file migration policies for HSM systems G06F16/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/185 Hierarchical storage management [HSM] systems, e.g. file migration or policies thereof details of archiving G06F16/11
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1012 based on compliance of requirements or conditions with available server resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

Methods and systems for virtualizing and managing cloud storage sources are disclosed. The method includes detecting devices in communication with a docking station and identifying a file on one of the devices. The method also includes identifying a plurality of cloud storage sources and calculating a weighted value for each storage source among the plurality of storage sources. The method further includes selecting a storage location within the plurality of cloud storage sources based on the calculated weighted values and storing the file at the selected storage location.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing cloud storage sources via a docking station, comprising:

the docking station determining that a first device has been docked with the docking station;

after the first device has been docked with the docking station, the docking station determining that a new file has been stored on the first device;

based at least on the docking station determining that the new file has been stored, the docking station storing, via a network, the new file on a cloud storage service, including;

the docking station identifying, via the network, a plurality of cloud storage services that includes the cloud storage service; and

the docking station calculating a weighted value of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, including;

the docking station receiving, from a user, a meta tag indicating a security level associated with the new file; and

the docking station determining meta information associated with each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, the meta information indicating whether cloud storage service is capable of storing and transmitting files in an encrypted format, wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is based at least on a correspondence between the meta tag and the meta information associated with each respective cloud storage service;

the docking station selecting a storage location within the plurality of cloud storage services based at least on the calculated weighted values;

the docking station storing, via the network, the new file at the selected storage location; and

the docking station providing a pointer to the new file to a second device, either currently docked with the docking station or docked with the docking station at a future time.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the docking station determining a data turn-around time of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the data turn-around time of each respective cloud storage service.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the docking station calculating a data turn-around time weight factor based at least on the determined data turn-around time for each respective cloud storage service;

the docking station determining a last access time associated with the new file; and

based at least on the last access time associated with the new file, the docking station adjusting the data turn-around time weight factor for each respective cloud storage service;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the data turn-around time weight factor.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the docking station determining a size of the new file; and

the docking station determining an unused storage capacity of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the unused storage capacity of each respective cloud storage service and the size of the new file.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the docking station determining a file type of the new file; and

the docking station determining whether each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services meets minimum requirements for the file type;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based on whether the respective cloud storage service meets the minimum requirements for the file type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the docking station selecting the storage location comprises selecting the set of cloud storage services from the plurality of cloud storage services; and

the docking station storing the new file at the selected storage location comprises storing only a portion of the new file at each cloud storage service in the set.

7. A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by a processor of a docking station, cause the docking station to:

determine that a first device has been docked with the docking station;

after determining that the first device has been docked with the docking station, determine that a new file has been stored on the first device;

based at least on determining that the new file has been stored, store, via a network, the new file on a cloud storage service, wherein, to store the new file on the cloud storage service, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to;

identify, via the network, a plurality of cloud storage services that includes the cloud storage service;

calculate a weighted value of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, wherein, to calculate the weighted value of each cloud storage service, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to;

receive, from a user, a meta tag indicating a security level associated with the new file; and

determine meta information associated with each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, the meta information indicating whether cloud storage service is capable of storing and transmitting files in an encrypted format, wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is based at least on a correspondence between the meta tag and the meta information associated with each respective cloud storage service;

select a storage location within the plurality of cloud storage services based at least on the calculated weighted values;

store, via the network, the new file at the selected storage location; and

provide a pointer to the new file to a second device, either currently docked with the docking station or docked with the docking station at a future time.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to determine a data turn-around time of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the data turn-around time of each respective cloud storage service.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to:

calculate a data turn-around time weight factor based at least on the determined data turn-around time for each respective cloud storage service;

determine a last access time associated with the new file; and

based at least on the last access time associated with the new file, adjust the data turn-around time weight factor for each respective cloud storage service;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the data turn-around time weight factor.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to:

determine a size of the new file; and

determine an unused storage capacity of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the unused storage capacity of each respective cloud storage service and the size of the new file.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to:

determine a file type of the new file; and

determine whether each cloud storage service among the plurality of cloud storage services meets minimum requirements for the file type;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based on whether the respective cloud storage service meets the minimum requirements for the file type.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7,

wherein, to select the storage location, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to:

select a set of cloud storage services from the plurality of cloud storage services; and

wherein, to store the new file at the selected storage location, the computer readable instructions further cause the docking station to;

store only a portion of the new file at each cloud storage service in the set of cloud storage services.

13. A docking station, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

wherein the memory includes instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the docking station to;

determine that a first device has been docked with the docking station;

after determining that the first device has been docked with the docking station, determine that a new file has been stored on the first device; and

based at least on determining that the new file has been stored, store, via a network, the new file on a cloud storage service, wherein, to store the new file on the cloud storage service, the instructions further cause the docking station to;

identify, via the network, a plurality of cloud storage services that includes the cloud storage service;

calculate a weighted value of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, wherein, to calculate the weighted value of each cloud storage service, the instructions further cause the docking station to;

receive, from a user, a meta tag indicating a security level associated with the new file; and

determine meta information associated with each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, the meta information indicating whether cloud storage service is capable of storing and transmitting files in an encrypted format, wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is based at least on a correspondence between the meta tag and the meta information associated with each respective cloud storage service;

select a storage location within the plurality of cloud storage services based at least on the calculated weighted values;

store, via the network, the new file at the selected storage location; and

provide a pointer to the new file to a second device, either currently docked with the docking station or docked with the docking station at a future time.

14. The docking station of claim 13, the instructions further cause the docking station to determine a data turn-around time of each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services, wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the data turn-around time of each respective cloud storage service.

15. The docking station of claim 14, the instructions further cause the docking station to:

calculate a data turn-around time weight factor based at least on the determined data turn-around time for each respective cloud storage service;

determine a last access time associated with the new file; and

based at least on the last access time associated with the new file, adjust the data turn-around time weight factor for each respective cloud storage service;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on the data turn-around time weight factor.

16. The docking station of claim 13, the instructions further cause the docking station to:

determine a size of the new file; and

determine an unused storage capacity of a first cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services;

wherein the weighted value of the first cloud storage service is further based at least on the unused storage capacity of the first cloud storage service and the size of the new file.

17. The docking station of claim 13, the instructions further cause the docking station to:

determine a file type of the new file;

determine whether each cloud storage service of the plurality of cloud storage services meets minimum requirements for the file type;

wherein the weighted value of each cloud storage service is further based at least on whether the respective cloud storage service meets the minimum requirements for the file type.

18. The docking station of claim 13,

wherein, to select the storage location, the instructions further cause the docking station to select a set of cloud storage services from the plurality of cloud storage services;

and

wherein, to store the new file at the selected storage location, the instructions further cause the docking station to store only a portion of the new file at each cloud storage service in the set.