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Computer system and process for transferring multiple high bandwidth streams of data between multiple storage units and multiple applications in a scalable and reliable manner

  • US 6,374,336 B1
  • Filed: 04/03/1998
  • Issued: 04/16/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/24/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A file system for a computer, enabling the computer to access remote independent storage units over a computer network in response to a request, from an application executed on the computer, to read data stored in a file on the storage units, wherein a file includes segments of the data and corresponding redundancy information for each segment, and wherein, for each file, each segment of the data is stored on a randomly or pseudorandomly selected one of the storage units, and wherein, for each segment of the data, the corresponding redundancy information is stored on a randomly or pseudorandomly selected one of the storage units, the file system comprising:

  • means, responsive to the request to read data from a file, for selecting, for each segment of the requested data, one of the storage units on which data representing the segment is stored;

    means for reading each segment of the requested data from the selected storage unit for the segment;

    means for serializing the segments read from the selected storage units; and

    means for providing the serialized data to the application;

    wherein the means for selecting includes;

    in the file system;

    means for requesting data from one of the storage units, indicating an estimated time;

    means for requesting data from another of the storage units, indicating an estimated time, if the first storage unit rejects the request; and

    means for requesting the data from the first storage unit if the second storage unit rejects the request; and

    in each storage unit;

    means for rejecting a request for data if the request cannot be serviced by the storage unit within the estimated time; and

    means for accepting a request for data if the request can be serviced by the storage unit within the estimated time.

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