Software-based network attached storage services hosted on massively distributed parallel computing networks
First Claim
1. A method of operating a distributed processing system to provide network attached storage (NAS) services, comprising:
- configuring a client agent program to have a software-based NAS component and to take advantage of unused or under-utilized resources of a plurality of network-connected distributed devices put into operation for purposes distinct from operating the client agent program to provide NAS services; and
utilizing the plurality of distributed devices running the client agent to provide NAS services to network-connected user devices, the network-connected user devices recognizing at least a portion of the plurality of distributed devices as dedicated NAS devices.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Software-based network attached storage (NAS) services hosted on a massively distributed computing system are disclosed. More particularly, a client agent program is configured to run on the network-connected client devices that are part of the distributed computing system to provide what appears to user devices as dedicated NAS functionality, for example, through the Internet or an intranet. This NAS functionality takes advantage of unused or under-utilized resources of these distributed devices to advantageously provide NAS capabilities. In addition, storage priority controls may be utilized to facilitate the full use of available storage resources, such as user specified constraints, standard bit, block or file priority levels and direct bit, block or file priority markings.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of operating a distributed processing system to provide network attached storage (NAS) services, comprising:
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configuring a client agent program to have a software-based NAS component and to take advantage of unused or under-utilized resources of a plurality of network-connected distributed devices put into operation for purposes distinct from operating the client agent program to provide NAS services; and
utilizing the plurality of distributed devices running the client agent to provide NAS services to network-connected user devices, the network-connected user devices recognizing at least a portion of the plurality of distributed devices as dedicated NAS devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A distributed processing system providing network attached storage (NAS) services, comprising:
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a client agent program configured to have a software-based NAS component and to take advantage of unused or under-utilized resources of a network-connected distributed device put into operation for purposes distinct from operating the client agent program to provide NAS services; and
a plurality of network-connected distributed devices running the client agent program to provide NAS services to network-connected user devices, the network-connected user devices recognizing at least a portion of the plurality of distributed devices as dedicated NAS devices. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification