Dispersing data to biological memory systems

• US 10,084,857 B2
• Filed: 01/09/2017
• Issued: 09/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2016
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pure Storage, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kazi, Asimuddin
• Primary Examiner(s): Knapp, Justin R
• Application Number:
  US15/401,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20170212806A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1076 Parity data used in redundant arrays of independent storages, e.g. in RAID systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1092 Rebuilding, e.g. when physically replacing a failing disk
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0813 with a network or matrix configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0837 with software control, e.g. non-cacheable data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0871 Allocation or management of cache space
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/12 Replacement control
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/122 of the least frequently used [LFU] type, e.g. with individual count value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/128 adapted to multidimensional cache systems, e.g. set-associative, multicache, multiset or multilevel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/214 Database migration support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2246 Trees, e.g. B+trees
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2379 Updates performed during online database operations; commit processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/604 Details relating to cache allocation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0611 in relation to response time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0632 by initialisation or re-initialisation of storage systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/064 Management of blocks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0647 Migration mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0659 Command handling arrangements, e.g. command buffers, queues, command scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5083 : Techniques for rebalancing the load in a distributed system
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/002 : Biomolecular computers, i.e. using biomolecules, proteins, cells using DNA G06N3/123; using neurons G06N3/061
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/1515 : Reed-Solomon codes
• CPC Class Codes: H03M 13/3761 : using code combining, i.e. using combining of codeword portions which may have been transmitted separately, e.g. Digital Fountain codes, Raptor codes or Luby Transform [LT] codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/27 : Arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 : Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• 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]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 : Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 : Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

A computing device includes an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN), a memory that stores operational instructions, and a processing module operably coupled to the interface and memory such that the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to perform various operations including to process monitor signals received from sensors coupled to biological memory devices (BMDs) within the DSN to determine status of the plurality of BMDs that distributedly store encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with a data object. The computing device services data access requests associated with the data object for the EDS(s). For some instances of BMD status, the computing device transfers EDS(s) from one portion of a BMD to another. For other instances of BMD status, the computing device rebuilds or directs rebuilding of EDS(s).

Claims

1. A computing device comprising:

an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN);

memory that stores operational instructions; and

a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to;

process monitor signals received from a plurality of sensors coupled to a plurality of biological memory devices (BMDs) within the DSN via a plurality of brain computer interfaces (BCIs) that respectively couple to the plurality of BMDs to determine status of the plurality of BMDs that distributedly store a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with a data object, wherein the status of the plurality of BMDs corresponds to at least one of levels of good health, levels of poor health, levels of changing health, levels of degradation of health, levels of recovery of good health, or levels of regeneration for the plurality of BMDs, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, and wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of EDSs;

service, via the interface and via the DSN, data access requests associated with the data object from at least one other computing device within the DSN for at least some of the EDSs of the set of EDSs via the plurality of BCIs that respectively couple to the plurality of BMDs;

when status of a first portion of a first biological memory device (BMD) of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably to a first threshold and compares favorably to a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, transfer one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to a second portion of the first BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold, wherein the first threshold corresponds to at least one of a first level of good health, a first level of poor health, a first level of changing health, a first level of degradation of health, a first level of recovery of good health, or a first level of regeneration, and the second threshold corresponds to at least one of a second level of good health, a second level of poor health, a second level of changing health, a second level of degradation of health, a second level of recovery of good health, or a second level of regeneration; and

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably to the second threshold, perform a rebuild of the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD in accordance with the dispersed error encoding parameters to generate rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs and store, via the interface and via the DSN, the rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs in the second portion of the first BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold or within a second BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold.

2. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

when the status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares favorably with the first threshold after the status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs has previously compare unfavorably with the first threshold and after the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs previously stored in the first portion of the first BMD have been transferred to the second portion of the first BMD, transfer the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs from the second portion of the first BMD back to the first portion of the first BMD.

3. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with the second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, direct another computing device to perform the rebuild of the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to generate the rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs.

4. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with the first threshold, transfer the one or more EDSs or one or more other EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to a storage unit (SU) that is a non-BMD within the DSN.

5. The computing device of claim 1, wherein:

a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment;

a read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment; and

a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN.

6. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the computing device is located at a first premises that is remotely located from at least one BMD of the plurality of BMDs within the DSN.

7. The computing device of claim 1 further comprising:

a storage unit (SU) of a plurality of storage units (SUs) within the DSN, a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, or a video game device.

8. The computing device of claim 1, wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).

9. A computing device comprising:

an interface configured to interface and communicate with a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN);

memory that stores operational instructions; and

a processing module operably coupled to the interface and to the memory, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is configured to;

process monitor signals received from a plurality of sensors coupled to a plurality of biological memory devices (BMDs) within the DSN via a plurality of brain computer interfaces (BCIs) that respectively couple to the plurality of BMDs to determine status of the plurality of BMDs that distributedly store a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with a data object, wherein the status of the plurality of BMDs corresponds to at least one of levels of good health, levels of poor health, levels of changing health, levels of degradation of health, levels of recovery of good health, or levels of regeneration for the plurality of BMDs, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of EDSs, wherein a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment, wherein a read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment, and wherein a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN;

service, via the interface and via the DSN, data access requests associated with the data object from at least one other computing device within the DSN for at least some of the EDSs of the set of EDSs via the plurality of BCIs that respectively couple to the plurality of BMDs;

when status of a first portion of a first biological memory device (BMD) of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably to a first threshold and compares favorably to a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, transfer one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to a second portion of the first BMD that has status that compares favorably with the threshold, wherein the first threshold corresponds to at least one of a first level of good health, a first level of poor health, a first level of changing health, a first level of degradation of health, a first level of recovery of good health, or a first level of regeneration, and the second threshold corresponds to at least one of a second level of good health, a second level of poor health, a second level of changing health, a second level of degradation of health, a second level of recovery of good health, or a second level of regeneration;

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with the second threshold, perform a rebuild of the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD in accordance with the dispersed error encoding parameters to generate rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs and store, via the interface and via the DSN, the rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs in the second portion of the first BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold or within a second BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold; and

when the status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares favorably with the first threshold after the status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs has previously compared unfavorably with the first threshold and after the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs previously stored in the first portion of the first BMD have been transferred to the second portion of the first BMD, transfer the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs from the second portion of the first BMD back to the first portion of the first BMD.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with the second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, direct another computing device to perform the rebuild of the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to generate the rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs.

11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the processing module, when operable within the computing device based on the operational instructions, is further configured to:

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with the first threshold, transfer the one or more EDSs or one or more other EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to a SU that is a non- BMD within the DSN.

12. The computing device of claim 9 further comprising:

a storage unit (SU) of a plurality of storage units (SUs) within the DSN, a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, or a video game device.

13. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).

14. A method for execution by a computing device, the method comprising:

processing monitor signals received via from a plurality of sensors coupled to a plurality of biological memory devices (BMDs) within a dispersed or distributed storage network (DSN) via an interface of the computing device configured to interface and communicate with the DSN and via a plurality of brain computer interfaces (BCIs) that respectively couple to the plurality of BMDs to determine status of the plurality of BMDs that distributedly store a set of encoded data slices (EDSs) associated with a data object, wherein the status of the plurality of BMDs corresponds to at least one of levels of good health, levels of poor health, levels of changing health, levels of degradation of health, levels of recovery of good health, or levels of regeneration for the plurality of BMDs, wherein the data object is segmented into a plurality of data segments, and wherein a data segment of the plurality of data segments is dispersed error encoded in accordance with dispersed error encoding parameters to produce a set of EDSs;

servicing, via the interface of the computing, device and via the DSN, data access requests associated with the data object from at least one other computing device within the DSN for at least some of the EDSs of the set of EDSs via the plurality of BCIs that respectively couple to the plurality of BMDs;

when status of a first portion of a first biological memory device (BMD) of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably to a first threshold and compares favorably to a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, transferring one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to a second portion of the first BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold, wherein the first threshold corresponds to at least one of a first level of good health, a first level of poor health, a first level of changing health, a first level of degradation of health, a first level of recovery of good health, or a first level of regeneration, and the second threshold corresponds to at least one of a second level of good health, a second level of poor health, a second level of changing health, a second level of degradation of health, a second level of recovery of good health, or a second level of regeneration; and

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, performing a rebuild of the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD in accordance with the dispersed error encoding parameters to generate rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs and storing, via the interface and via the DSN, the rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs in the second portion of the first BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold or within a second BMD that has status that compares favorably with the first threshold.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

when the status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares favorably with the first threshold after the status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs has previously compared unfavorably with the first threshold and after the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs previously stored in the first portion of the first BMD have been transferred to the second portion of the first BMD, transferring the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs from the second portion of the first BMD back to the first portion of the first BMD.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with the second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, directing another computing device to perform the rebuild of the one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to generate the rebuilt one or more EDSs of the set of EDSs.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

when status of the first portion of the first BMD of the plurality of BMDs compares unfavorably with the first threshold, transferring the one or more EDSs or one or more other EDSs of the set of EDSs stored in the first portion of the first BMD to a storage unit (SU) that is a non-BMD within the DSN.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein:

a decode threshold number of EDSs are needed to recover the data segment;

a read threshold number of EDSs provides for reconstruction of the data segment; and

a write threshold number of EDSs provides for a successful transfer of the set of EDSs from a first at least one location in the DSN to a second at least one location in the DSN.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the computing device is a storage unit (SU) of a plurality of storage units (SUs) within the DSN, a wireless smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a personal computers (PC), a work station, or a video game device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the DSN includes at least one of a wireless communication system, a wire lined communication system, a non-public intranet system, a public internet system, a local area network (LAN), or a wide area network (WAN).