Disk storage with transparent overflow to network storage
First Claim
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1. A computer system, comprising:
- a server, having a plurality of storage devices attached, connected to a plurality of workstations including first and second workstations, each having storage, to form a network;
wherein when said storage of the first workstation is full enough to meet a fullness test, selected data from said storage is automatically moved to one of said plurality of storage devices attached to said server;
wherein the second workstation is provided with an indication of the location of said selected data thereby permitting said second workstation to access said selected data without interacting with said first workstation;
wherein said fullness test includes a first threshold and a second threshold and when the storage of the first workstation reaches the first threshold, the selected data is moved, but not until it is convenient to move the selected data, and when the storage of the first workstation reaches the second threshold, the selected data is moved immediately.
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Abstract
A computer system and method of operating a network in which data overflow from workstation or PC hard drives is automatically transferred over to a network server hard drive allowing the workstation user to continue working without interruption. Furthermore, this system minimizes the amount of time a network administrator spends on attending to users who have no remaining hard drive space on their computers.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A computer system, comprising:
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a server, having a plurality of storage devices attached, connected to a plurality of workstations including first and second workstations, each having storage, to form a network;
wherein when said storage of the first workstation is full enough to meet a fullness test, selected data from said storage is automatically moved to one of said plurality of storage devices attached to said server;
wherein the second workstation is provided with an indication of the location of said selected data thereby permitting said second workstation to access said selected data without interacting with said first workstation;
wherein said fullness test includes a first threshold and a second threshold and when the storage of the first workstation reaches the first threshold, the selected data is moved, but not until it is convenient to move the selected data, and when the storage of the first workstation reaches the second threshold, the selected data is moved immediately. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of operating a network, comprising the steps of:
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(a.) monitoring the usage of storage in computers connected to said network;
(b.) when said storage in any one of said computers meets a fullness test, automatically moving selected data from said storage to different storage in another computer attached to said network; and
(c.) providing information to another computer indicating the location of said selected data thereby permitting said other computer to access said selected data without interacting the computer that met the fullness test;
wherein said fullness test includes two thresholds, one of which is associated with moving the selected data at a convenient time and the other threshold is associated with moving the selected data immediately. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of storing data on a network of computers comprising a plurality of computers, each computer having storage attached, wherein the computers are connected to form a network, comprising the steps of:
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(a.) periodically inspecting said computer storage to determine if a fullness test has been met;
(b.) if said fullness test has been met, then selecting data from said storage;
(c.) moving said selected data to said storage of another said computer of said plurality; and
(d.) providing information to another computer indicating the location of said selected data thereby permitting said other computer to access said selected data without interacting the computer that met the fullness test;
wherein a user of said computer is not notified that said selected data has been moved; and
wherein said fullness test includes two thresholds, one of which is associated with moving the selected data at a convenient time and the other threshold is associated with moving the selected data immediately. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer system, comprising:
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a plurality of computers, each computer having storage attached, wherein the computers are connected to form a network, each of said computers having first and second thresholds of storage fullness;
wherein when said storage on a said computer reaches said first threshold, selected data from said storage is automatically moved to the storage on another said computer, said selected data being moved at a time when it is efficient use of network resources; and
wherein when said storage on a said computer reaches said second threshold, selected data from said storage is automatically moved to the storage on another said computer, said selected data being moved immediately. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification