Dynamic Storage Resources

• US 20100011145A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Juniper Networks Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Blackwave Inc.
• Inventors: Gerovac, Branko J., Carver, David C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/310
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data

Abstract

A storage server in a distributed content storage and access system provides a mechanism for dynamically establishing storage resources, such as buffers, with specified semantic models. For example, the semantic models support distributed control of single buffering and double buffering during a content transfer that makes use of the buffer for intermediate storage. In some examples, a method includes examining characteristics associated with a desired transfer of data, such as a unit of content, and then selecting characteristics of a first storage resource based on results of the examining. The desired transfer of the data is then affected to use the first storage resource element.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

examining characteristics associated with a desired transfer of a unit of content;

selecting characteristics of a first storage resource element based on results of the examining; and

affecting the desired transfer of the unit of content using the first storage resource element.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein examining the characteristics associated with the desired transfer comprises examining characteristics of the unit of content.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein examining the characteristics associated with the desired transfer comprises examining at least one of characteristics of the unit of content, desired communication characteristics of the transfer, and a location of a source and/or a destination of the desired transfer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting characteristics of a first storage resource element comprises selecting from amongst a plurality of predefined storage resource element types.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein selecting from amongst a plurality of predefined storage resource element types comprises selecting according to semantic models associated with the resource elements.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein selecting from amongst a plurality of predefined storage resource element types comprises selecting a buffer type.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein selecting a buffer type comprises selecting a type of buffer semantics.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein selecting characteristics of a first storage resource element comprises selecting parameters for the first storage resource element.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein selecting parameters for the first storage element comprises selecting a size of the first storage element.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein affecting the desired transfer of the unit of content using the first storage resource element comprises passing data from a source of the desired transfer to the first storage resource element and passing data from said first element to a destination of the desired transfer.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising requesting forming of the first storage resource element according to the selected characteristics.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing instructions to transfer data from a source of the desired transfer to a destination of the desired transfer using the first storage resource element.

13. A method comprising:

receiving a selection of a first storage resource element according to a selection of a semantic model associated with the storage resource element;

forming the first storage resource element; and

receiving instructions to affect a desired transfer of a unit of content using the formed first storage element.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing an address for the formed first storage element.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving the instructions to affect the desired transfer comprising receiving instructions specifying the address of the formed first storage element.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein forming the first storage element comprises forming a buffer storage element according to the selection of the semantic model.

17. A distributed storage and access system comprising:

a plurality of storage servers; and

communication links coupling the storage servers;

wherein the plurality of storage servers comprises a first storage server configured to establishing a first storage resource according to a selection a semantic model for said storage resource; and

wherein each of the plurality of storage servers includes an interface for accepting data transfer instructions according to a common protocol, said instructions identifying endpoints of the data transfers according to a common naming approach for storage resources.

18. The distributed system of claim 17 wherein the first storage server includes an interface for accepting a data transfer instruction according to the common protocol identifying the established first storage resource according to the common naming approach.

19. The distributed system of claim 17 wherein the first storage resource comprises a buffer.

20. A storage server comprising:

a first data storage device;

a controller;

a second storage device; and

an interface for accepting data transfer requests, said interface configured to accept data transfer requests including (a) requests for transfer of data between the first storage device and the second storage device, and (b) requests for transfer data between the second storage device and a location external to the server.

21. The storage server of claim 20 wherein the first storage device comprises a persistent storage device and the second storage device comprises a volatile storage device.

22. The storage server of claim 20 wherein the interface is further configured to accept data transfer requests including (c) requests for transfer data between the first storage device and a location external to the server.

23. The storage server of claim 20 wherein the interface is further configured to accept requests to establish storage elements in the second storage device.

24. The storage server of claim 23 wherein the interface is further configured to accept characteristics of storage elements in the second storage.