Methods and apparatus for indirectly identifying a retention period for data in a storage system
First Claim
1. A method of processing data in a computer system comprising at least one host and at least one storage system, the method comprising:
- receiving a request, from the host, to delete a unit of data stored on the storage system;
in response to the request, determining whether a previously-defined retention period for the unit of data has expired by;
retrieving first information, associated with the unit of data, that identifies second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data, wherein the first information is separate from the second information and includes information identifying a retention class to which the unit of data belongs, wherein the second information is the previously-defined retention period for the retention class that defines a period of time during which units of data belonging to the retention class cannot be deleted from and/or modified on the at least one storage system, and wherein the at least one storage system stores a record associating a plurality of previously-defined retention periods with a plurality of retention classes; and
using the first information and the record stored on the at least one storage system to retrieve the second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data;
receiving, at the at least one storage system, a second request requesting that the at least one storage system modify the retention period of the retention class; and
when it is determined that the retention period for the unit of data has not expired, denying the request to delete the unit of data.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment is a method and apparatus for modifying retention periods in a storage system, in which previously defined retention periods for units of data may be reduced. In another embodiment, the retention period of a unit of data may be modified in response to the occurrence of an event by renewing previously defined retention periods until the occurrence of the event is detected. If the occurrence of the event is detected, a retention period associated with that event may be established for the unit of data. In yet another embodiment, retention classes are used to define retention periods for units of data so that the retention period of a unit of data may be modified without modifying the unit of data itself. In a further embodiment, a request to the storage system to reduce a retention period includes authentication information that the storage system may use to verify the request.
14 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of processing data in a computer system comprising at least one host and at least one storage system, the method comprising:
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receiving a request, from the host, to delete a unit of data stored on the storage system; in response to the request, determining whether a previously-defined retention period for the unit of data has expired by; retrieving first information, associated with the unit of data, that identifies second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data, wherein the first information is separate from the second information and includes information identifying a retention class to which the unit of data belongs, wherein the second information is the previously-defined retention period for the retention class that defines a period of time during which units of data belonging to the retention class cannot be deleted from and/or modified on the at least one storage system, and wherein the at least one storage system stores a record associating a plurality of previously-defined retention periods with a plurality of retention classes; and using the first information and the record stored on the at least one storage system to retrieve the second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data; receiving, at the at least one storage system, a second request requesting that the at least one storage system modify the retention period of the retention class; and when it is determined that the retention period for the unit of data has not expired, denying the request to delete the unit of data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. At least one computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed on a computer system, perform a method of processing data, the computer system comprising at least one host and at least one storage system, the method comprising:
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receiving a request, from the host, to delete a unit of data stored on the storage system; in response to the request, determining whether a previously-defined retention period for the unit of data has expired by; retrieving first information, associated with the unit of data, that identifies second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data, wherein the first information is separate from the second information and includes information identifying a retention class to which the unit of data belongs, wherein the second information is the previously-defined retention period for the retention class that defines a period of time during which units of data belonging to the retention class cannot be deleted from and/or modified on the at least one storage system, and wherein the at least one storage system stores a record associating a plurality of previously-defined retention periods with a plurality of retention classes; and using the first information and the record stored on the at least one storage system to retrieve the second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data; receiving, at the at least one storage system, a second request requesting that the at least one storage system modify the retention period of the retention class; and when it is determined that the retention period for the unit of data has not expired, denying the request to delete the unit of data. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A storage system, comprising:
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at least one storage device to store a unit of data; and at least one controller that is adapted to; receive a request to delete the unit of data; and
in response to the request, determine whether a retention period for the unit of data has expired by;retrieving first information, associated with the unit of data, that identifies second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data, wherein the first information is separate from the second information and includes information identifying a retention class to which the unit of data belongs, wherein the second information is the previously-defined retention period for the retention class that defines a period of time during which units of data belonging to the retention class cannot be deleted from and/or modified on the at least one storage system, and wherein the at least one storage device stores a record associating a plurality of previously-defined retention periods with a plurality of retention classes; and using the first information and the record stored on the at least one storage device to retrieve the second information specifying the previously-defined retention period for the unit of data; receive a second request requesting that the storage system modify the retention period of the retention class, and to modify the second information specifying the retention period in response to the second request; and when the at least one controller determines that the retention period for the unit of data has not expired, deny the request to delete the unit of data. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification