SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SECURE REMOTE STORAGE

• US 20120166576A1
• Filed: 08/12/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Security First Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Security First Corp
• Inventors: Orsini, Rick L., O'Hare, Mark S., Martin, Don
• Granted Patent: US 9,275,071 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1453 using de-duplication of the data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1471 involving logging of persistent data for recovery
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/184 implemented as replicated file system
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/805 Real-time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3834 Maintaining memory consistency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/3863 using multiple copies of the architectural state, e.g. shadow registers
• 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]

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for transmitting data to at least one storage system. A request is received to store a data set in a storage location. In response, a first plurality of shares is generated, each containing a distribution of data from the data set, and at least one share is stored in a local memory configured for backup in at least one remote storage system. At least one share is transmitted to the at least one remote storage system. Systems and methods are also provided for improving data availability. In response to a restoration event, if insufficient shares of data are available to reconstruct a data set, a read instruction in a journaling message is transmitted to a remote storage system requesting an additional share. The additional share is received and stored in a local storage, and the data set is reconstructed.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting data to at least one remote storage system, comprising:

identifying a data set at a first device;

receiving a request to store the data set in a storage location;

generating a first plurality of shares, wherein each of the first plurality of shares contains a distribution of data from the data set;

storing at least one of the first plurality of shares in a local memory in response to receiving the request, wherein the local memory is configured for backup in the at least one remote storage system; and

transmitting, over a network link, at least one share of the first plurality of shares for storage in at least one remote storage system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the local memory includes a folder selected for storing the at least one of the first plurality of shares.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request comprises a save instruction.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting at least one share of the first plurality of shares comprises synchronizing the data stored in the local memory with data stored in the at least one remote storage system.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein synchronizing the data stored in the local memory with data stored in the at least one remote storage system comprises mirroring, to the at least one remote storage device, each write operation to the local memory.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting at least one share of the first plurality of shares comprises generating at least one computer instruction that is recognizable by the at least one remote storage system as an instruction to store some of the first plurality of shares.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one computer instruction comprises an API call.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one remote storage system comprises a first remote storage system and a second remote storage system, and generating at least one computer instruction comprises generating at least one first computer instruction that is recognizable by the first remote storage system as an instruction to store a first portion of the first plurality of shares and generating at least one second computer instruction that is recognizable by the second remote storage system as an instruction to store a second portion of the first plurality of shares.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first and second portions comprise different portions of the first plurality of shares.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one first computer instruction is not recognizable by the second remote storage system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the first portion is stored in a first local memory area and the second portion is stored in a second local memory area, the first local memory area configured for backup in the first remote storage system and the second local memory area configured for backup in the second remote storage system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one remote storage system comprises cloud storage.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the data.

14. A method of improving data availability, comprising:

detecting a restoration event;

in response to detecting the restoration event, determining whether a sufficient number of shares of data are available to a client device to reconstruct a data set based on the available shares of data;

in response to determining an insufficient number of shares are available,

transmitting at least one read instruction to at least one remote storage system in a journaling message, the at least one read instruction requesting an additional share of data;

receiving the requested additional share of data;

storing the additional share of data in a storage local to the client device; and

reconstructing the data set based at least in part on the stored additional share of data.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising clearing shares of data from the storage local to the client device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the clearing occurs at predetermined intervals.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

in response to determining a sufficient number of shares are available,

reconstructing the data set based on at least some of the available shares.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein a restoration event comprises a request for the data set.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting a restoration event comprises receiving a restoration instruction, the restoration instruction issued periodically.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting a restoration event comprises detecting a failure at a remote storage systems.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein detecting a restoration event comprises detecting a failure at a local storage system.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the at least one remote storage system comprises cloud storage.

23. A system for transmitting data to at least one remote storage system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

a network interface accessible to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

identify a data set;

receive a request to store the data set in a storage location;

generate a first plurality of shares, wherein each of the first plurality of shares contains a distribution of data from the data set;

store at least one of the first plurality of shares in the data set in the memory in response to receiving the request, wherein the memory is configured for backup in the at least one remote storage system; and

transmit, through the network interface, at least one share of the first plurality of shares for storage in at least one remote storage system.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the local memory includes a folder selected for storing the at least one of the first plurality of shares.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the request comprises a save instruction.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the processor is further configured to synchronize the data stored in the local memory with data stored in the at least one remote storage system.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein synchronizing the data stored in the local memory with data stored in the at least one remote storage system comprises mirroring, to the at least one remote storage device, each write operation to the memory.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein transmitting at least one share of the first plurality of shares comprises generating at least one first computer instruction that is recognizable by a first remote storage system as an instruction to store a first portion of the first plurality of shares, and generating at least one second computer instruction that is recognizable by a second remote storage system as an instruction to store a second portion of the first plurality of shares.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the first portion is stored in a first memory area and the second portion is stored in a second memory area, the first memory area configured for backup in the first remote storage system and the second local memory area configured for backup in the second remote storage system.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the at least one remote storage system comprises cloud storage.

31. A system for improving data availability, comprising:

a processor configured to detect a restoration event signal;

a memory accessible to the processor; and

a network interface accessible to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to;

in response to detecting the restoration event signal, determine whether a sufficient number of shares of data are available to a client device to reconstruct a data set based on the available shares of data;

in response to determining that an insufficient number of shares are available,

transmit at least one read instruction, through the network interface, to at least one remote storage system in a journaling message, the at least one read instruction requesting one or more additional shares of data;

receive the requested one or more additional shares of data;

store the one or more additional shares of data in the memory; and

reconstruct the data set based at least in part on the stored additional share of data.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein a restoration event signal indicates at least one of a request for the data set, a periodic restoration, and a detected failure at one or more remote storage systems.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the at least one remote storage system comprises cloud storage.