Systems and methods for deploying profitable storage services

• US 20030135385A1
• Filed: 11/07/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: EMC Corporation (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yotta Yotta Incorporated (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Karpoff, Wayne
• Application Number:
  US10/291,849
• Publication Number:
  US 20030135385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

Systems and methods for delivering electronic data storage to consumers in an efficient, cost-effective way. A new storage networking paradigm, Utility Storage, is provided which addresses the specific needs of SSPs. Many characteristics of the Utility Storage model enable a new SSP business model to be implemented that is more profitable and growth orientated. An SSP using the Utility Storage model is able to provides storage to an end customer with a low entry cost threshold that encourages incremental consumption by the consumer. Additionally, using the Utility Storage model, the SSP is able to provide storage services to an end customer at a lower cost by amortizing the operating and infrastructure costs across a larger population of customers.

Claims

1. A method of providing electronic data storage to customers, comprising:

providing one or more storage systems, each storage system including one or more storage devices;

providing a controller system including one or more storage controllers that provide customer access to said one or more storage systems, said controller system being communicably coupled to host customer systems over a network;

allocating a specific amount of storage space to a first customer for storage of the first customer'"'"'s data;

charging the first customer a first rate for the allocated amount of storage space;

receiving customer data from the first customer for storage on the storage system;

storing said customer data to the storage system; and

charging the customer a second rate for the storage space used in excess of the allocated amount of storage space,

wherein the second rate is lower per amount of storage space than the first rate, whereby incremental use of storage space is encouraged.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rate charged to each customer is a lump sum amount based on the amount of allocated storage space.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical location on the one or more storage devices to which the first customer'"'"'s data is stored is dynamically determined by the controller system as the customer data is received for storage.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second rate is an incremental rate based on the actual amount of excess storage space used.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the incremental rate is based on MB storage increments.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the incremental rate is based on GB storage increments.

7. A method of providing electronic data storage to customers, comprising:

providing one or more storage systems, each storage system including one or more storage devices, said one or more storage systems being communicably coupled to host customer systems over a first network;

allocating a specific amount of storage space to each customer for storage of the customer'"'"'s data;

charging each customer a first rate for the allocated amount of storage space;

receiving customer data from customers for storage on the storage system;

storing said customer data to the storage system; and

for each customer, charging the customer a second rate for the storage space used in excess of the allocated amount of storage space.

8. The method of claim 7, further including providing a controller system including one or more storage controllers that provide customer access to said one or more storage systems, said controller system being communicably coupled to host customer systems over said first network and to said one or more storage systems over a second network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the physical location on the one or more storage devices to which each customer'"'"'s data is stored is dynamically determined by the controller system as customer data is received for storage.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the second rate charged to each customer is an incremental rate based on the actual amount of excess storage space used by that customer.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the second rate charged to each customer is lower per amount of storage space than the first rate, whereby incremental use of storage space is encouraged.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the first rate charged to each customer is a lump sum amount based on the total amount of allocated storage space.

13. A method of providing electronic data storage to customers, comprising:

providing one or more storage systems, each storage system including one or more storage devices;

providing a controller system including one or more storage controllers that provide customer access to said one or more storage systems, said controller system being communicably coupled to host customer systems over a network;

allocating a specific amount of storage space to each of a plurality of customers;

dynamically determining, using the controller system, the actual storage location for customer data on the storage systems as customer data is received, wherein the physical location of the specific amount of storage space allocated to each customer is not determined until data is actually received and stored so that actual storage space is not allocated until data is stored thereto, whereby the costs of providing and operating the storage and controller systems are amortized across the plurality of customers, and whereby the costs charged to customers for the use of the storage system are reduceable.

14. The method of claim 13, further including providing security measures to prevent customers from accessing the data of other customers.