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Data storage method and data storage for averaging workload in a redundant storage configuration

  • US 6,571,350 B1
  • Filed: 12/27/1999
  • Issued: 05/27/2003
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/25/1998
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A data storage method for storing or fetching data to or from a storage according to a store request or a fetch request issued from at least one processing device, comprising:

  • providing the storage having duplicate data stored in separate storage devices, respectively;

    receiving at least two fetch requests from the processing device, which the two fetch requests are to fetch different first and second desired data out of the duplicate data, respectively;

    fetching the first desired data from one of the separate storage devices and fetching the second desired data from the other of the separate storage devices;

    sending the first and second desired data to the processing device;

    receiving at least one store request from the processing device, which the store request is to store third desired data in the storage;

    storing the third desired data in all of the separate storage devices;

    wherein said step of providing provides separate second storage devices in the storage corresponding to the separate storage devices and having a copy of a part of data stored in corresponding one of the separate storage devices, respectively;

    said step of storing further including the following steps of;

    transferring data stored at the same address as that at which the third desired data is stored from at least one of the separate storage devices to the corresponding one of the separate second storage devices which does not have the data;

    said step of transferring transfers the data from at least two of the separate storage devices to corresponding at least two separate second storage devices, in parallel when the at least two separate second storage devices do not have the data;

    storing the third desired data in all of the second storage devices; and

    prohibiting from fetching the data and storing any data at the same address at which the third data is stored according to other fetch requests and store requests while the data is being transferred from at least one of said separate storage devices to the corresponding one of said separate second storage devices.

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