DISTRIBUTED DATA SYSTEM WITH DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT AND ACCESS CONTROL

• US 20150127607A1
• Filed: 09/15/2014
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2013
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: UNICOM Systems Incorporated (UNICOM Global, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: UNICOM Systems Incorporated (UNICOM Global, Inc.)
• Inventors: SAVAGE, Bret, MARSHALL, Casey, STUTCHMAN, Geoffrey, ELTHERINGTON, Ross, OWENS, Steve, NORTHUP, George
• Application Number:
  US14/486,517
• Publication Number:
  US 20150127607A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/610
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1727 Details of free space management performed by the file system saving storage space on storage systems G06F3/0608; management of blocks in storage devices G06F3/064
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/178 Techniques for file synchronisation in file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1873 Versioning file systems, temporal file systems, e.g. file system supporting different historic versions of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/21 Design, administration or maintenance of databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/245 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/25 Integrating or interfacing systems involving database management systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• 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

Data management systems and methods include a cloud-based platform coupled to a system of agents or folders hosted on client devices. The platform does not store actual data but instead makes use of metadata provided by the agents to track a location of all data in the system and manage the distributed storage, movement and processing of the actual data among the agents. In so doing, the platform pools networked storage into “virtual clusters” using local storage at the agents. The agents collectively monitor, store, and transfer or move data, and perform data processing operations as directed by the platform, as described in detail herein. The agents include agents hosted on or coupled to processor-based devices, agents hosted on devices of a local area network, agents hosted on devices of a wide area network, agents hosted on mobile devices, and agents hosted on cloud-based devices.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

coupling a platform comprising a processor to a plurality of databases;

forming a grid by coupling a plurality of agents to the platform, wherein each agent of the plurality of agents is an agent of the platform running on a client device;

generating metadata at each agent and providing the metadata to the platform instead of content, wherein the metadata corresponds to the content of memory accessible by a plurality of client devices corresponding to the plurality of agents;

determining with the metadata locations of the content;

generating goals with the metadata representing operations for maintaining a state of the content;

generating with the metadata a plurality of tasks corresponding to the goals; and

assigning each task to an agent having access to the content that corresponds to the task, wherein each task is a processing operation directed by the platform to be performed by an agent on content accessible by the agent.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising the platform operating as a master controller for the plurality of agents, wherein the plurality of agents work in cooperation with the platform as controlled by the plurality of tasks.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising each agent of the plurality of agents functioning independently of the platform and any other agent of the plurality of agents.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising the platform receiving the metadata of the content instead of receiving the content, wherein a plurality of client devices hosting the plurality of agents comprise distributive storage devices that include the content.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising the platform using the metadata to maintain at the plurality of databases a master index of the content of the plurality of agents.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises data on location of the content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises data on state of the content.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises data on identity of the plurality of agents.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises data on the content to which each agent has access.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises information of the plurality of tasks performed by the plurality of agents.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the task is related to tracking location of the content across the grid.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the task is related to managing storage of the content across the grid.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the task is related to managing movement of the content across the grid.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the task is related to processing the content across the grid.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein each task comprises conditions of completion for the task.

16. The method of claim 1, comprising the plurality of agents collectively monitoring the content as directed by the platform.

17. The method of claim 1, comprising the plurality of agents collectively storing the content as directed by the platform.

18. The method of claim 1, comprising the plurality of agents collectively transferring the content as directed by the platform.

19. The method of claim 1, comprising the plurality of agents collectively performing processing operations on the content as directed by the platform.

20. The method of claim 1, comprising each agent of each client device indexing contents of memory accessible by the client device.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases include an agent database that comprises agents available to the platform and information of each agent.

22. The method of claim 1, wherein each agent includes at least one library, wherein a library represents a device to which the agent has access including at least one of read access and write access.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of databases includes a libraries database that comprises a list of libraries corresponding to the plurality of agents, wherein each library of the grid is separately represented in the libraries database.

24. The method of claim 23, comprising each agent having access to each library corresponding to the agent.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the plurality of databases includes a goals database that comprises a list of the goals, wherein each goal of the list of goals is generated by the platform and corresponds to at least one library, wherein the goal is used to execute operations on corresponding library contents.

26. The method of claim 25, comprising generating the list of goals to include a collection of libraries on which tasks are to be performed.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein each goal corresponds to at least one library and is used by an agent to execute at least one task on content of a corresponding library.

28. The method of claim 25, comprising the platform using the goals to read a plurality of libraries of the plurality of agents.

29. The method of claim 25, comprising the platform using the goals to identify at least one of inconsistencies and discrepancies in the content accessible by the plurality of agents.

30. The method of claim 29, comprising the platform using the goals to generate at least one task to eliminate at least one of inconsistencies and discrepancies identified in the content.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases include a work database.

32. The method of claim 31, comprising the platform generating a work database corresponding to each agent, wherein the work database includes tasks that are to be performed by the corresponding agent.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the work database includes a description of each task that is to be performed by a corresponding agent and information necessary for the agent to perform the task.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases include a capabilities database that comprises information of capabilities of the plurality of agents.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of databases include a synchronization database that includes and maintains a record of the plurality of agents.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the synchronization database includes a record of file states of content of the plurality of agents.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the synchronization database includes an entry for each file, wherein the entry includes a content hash corresponding to the file, wherein the content hash comprises a hash of a list of blobs representing the content of the file, wherein each blob of the list of blobs comprises a hash of a fragment of a file in the content, wherein the fragment is a component of the file.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the synchronization database includes an entry for each agent, wherein the entry includes a content hash corresponding to files of the agent, wherein the content hash comprises a hash of a list of blobs representing the content of the files, wherein each blob of the list of blobs comprises a hash of a fragment of a file in the content, wherein the fragment is a component of the file.

39. The method of claim 1, comprising the platform controlling transfer of content among client devices using the plurality of agents.

40. The method of claim 39, comprising the platform controlling synchronizing of the content among client devices using the plurality of agents, wherein the synchronizing of the content includes synchronizing the content in response to changes in the content.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the transfer of content comprises block-level, non-sequential transfer of content.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the transfer of content comprises transferring a first block of the content from a second client device to a first client device and transferring a second block of the content from a third client device to a first client device.

43. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tasks includes a scan task.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein the scan task includes the agent recursively monitoring a library corresponding to the agent and reporting to the platform any changes to the library.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the reporting comprises placing a file of the library that includes the changes in a local database of the client device hosting the agent, and providing the metadata of the local database to the platform.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tasks includes a write task.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the write task includes the agent copying at least one blob of a file from a first location to a second location, wherein each of the first location and second location correspond to client devices coupled to the grid.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the at least one blob comprises a hash of a fragment of a file in the content, wherein the fragment is a component of the file.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the write task comprises conditions of completion.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the conditions of completion comprise at least one of retrieving the blob corresponding to the write task and identifying that the blob to be overwritten during the write task corresponds to a correct file.

51. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tasks comprises an upload task that includes copying a file of the content from a device accessible by the agent to a remote storage device.

52. The method of claim 51, comprising the agent reporting to the platform addition of the file to the content accessible by the agent and, in response, the platform assigns a task to the agent to upload the file.

53. The method of claim 52, comprising in response to the task the agent determining if the file is present at the remote storage device, and uploads the file to the remote storage device when the file is determined to be absent.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein the upload task includes the agent copying at least one blob of a file from the device accessible by the agent to the remote storage device.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the at least one blob comprises a hash of a fragment of the file, wherein the fragment is a component of the file.

56. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of tasks includes a delete task.

57. The method of claim 1, wherein a task comprises a plurality of phases including at least one of queued, pending, and completed, wherein the platform tracks the phase of each task of the plurality of tasks.

58. The method of claim 1, comprising each agent maintaining locally at the client device tasks assigned to the agent.

59. The method of claim 58, comprising the agent periodically polling the platform to identify assigned tasks.

60. The method of claim 1, wherein an agent comprises a hierarchy for locating task information needed to complete a task and located at a remote device.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein the hierarchy comprises the agent searching a local database of the client device hosting the agent.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein the hierarchy comprises the agent communicating with at least one peer agent of the plurality of agents to locate the task information.

63. The method of claim 62, wherein the agent comprises identity of peer agents that possess the task information.

64. The method of claim 62, wherein the hierarchy comprises the agent retrieving the task information from a remote storage device.

65. The method of claim 64, comprising the agent receiving from the platform the identity of peer agents in an ordered list and searching for the task information in accordance with the ordered list.

66. The method of claim 1, wherein each agent includes a plurality of components executing in parallel.

67. The method of claim 66, wherein the plurality of components include a provider component that retrieves tasks designated for the agent from the platform and stores retrieved tasks in a task database local to the client device hosting the agent.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the plurality of components comprise a task execution component.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the plurality of components include a runner component that monitors the task database, retrieves each task from the task database, and provides a retrieved task to the task execution component and designates the retrieved task to have a pending status.

70. The method of claim 69, comprising the task execution component executing the task, and reports status of task execution to the runner component.

71. The method of claim 70, comprising the runner component reporting the status to the task database.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the plurality of components include an update component that monitors the task database for tasks having a completed status, and reports status information of completed tasks to the platform.

73. The method of claim 72, comprising the platform updating the plurality of databases in response to the status information.

74. The method of claim 1, comprising the plurality of agents generating the metadata, wherein metadata generated by an agent corresponds to the content to which the agent has access.

75. The method of claim 74, comprising the agent generating the metadata by scanning content of each file to which the agent has access.

76. The method of claim 75, comprising the agent generating the metadata by splitting the content of the file into a plurality of fragments, wherein each fragment comprises a variable size component of the file.

77. The method of claim 76, wherein the variable size fragments are between a pre-specified minimum length and maximum length.

78. The method of claim 76, comprising the agent generating the metadata by generating a plurality of blobs that represent the plurality of fragments, wherein each blob represents a fragment.

79. The method of claim 76, comprising the agent generating the plurality of blobs using a blob hash, wherein the blob hash comprises, for each byte in the content, running a hash algorithm over components of the content, wherein the hash algorithm is set to identify a specified pattern of data.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the generating of the blob comprises generating a description of the blob that includes a value of a hash at a point where the fragment represented by the blob was separated from a remaining portion of the file.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the generating of the blob comprises generating an offset value based on a break point of the fragment represented by the blob.

82. The method of claim 81, wherein the generating of the blob comprises generating a hash of complete contents of the blob, wherein the hash of the complete contents of the blob is an identifier for the blob.

83. The method of claim 82, wherein the generating of the blob comprises generating a list of blobs representing the content of the file.

84. The method of claim 83, wherein the generating of the blob includes generating a content hash that comprises a hash of the list of blobs representing the content of the file, wherein the content hash is an identifier for the file.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein the generating of the blob includes generating a name hash that comprises a hash of a file name corresponding to the file.

86. The method of claim 85, wherein the generating of the blob includes generating a file hash that comprises a hash of a combination of the content hash and a name hash.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the generating of the blob includes generating a path hash that comprises a hash of the file name and a file path corresponding to the content of the file.

88. The method of claim 87, wherein the generating of the blob includes generating a metadata hash that comprises a hash of file metadata of the file.

89. The method of claim 88, comprising the platform generating a record for the file, wherein the record comprises blob hashes of the file, the content hash, the file hash, the path hash and the metadata hash.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein the plurality of databases include a libraries database, wherein the libraries database comprises the record.

91. The method of claim 79, wherein the generating of the blob comprises generating a size of the blob.

92. The method of claim 79, wherein the file is described as a list of blobs comprising the file.

93. The method of claim 79, comprising each agent storing a blob locally at the client device hosting the agent, and transfers a blob that is previously unreported to central storage of the platform.

94. The method of claim 1, wherein the platform comprises a policy database and a rules engine.

95. The method of claim 1, comprising analyzing each file of the content.

96. The method of claim 95, comprising delineating each file of the content as at least one of business content and personal content.

97. The method of claim 96, comprising determining for the business content a confidentiality level of each file of the content.

98. The method of claim 96, comprising scanning and extracting key terms from each file of the content.

99. The method of claim 98, comprising comparing the key terms across an enterprise and generating a list of enterprise-specific key terms.

100. The method of claim 98, wherein the determining of the confidentiality level comprises identifying specific key terms of the key terms.

101. The method of claim 97, wherein the generating of the metadata comprises generating the metadata to include the confidentiality level of corresponding content.

102. The method of claim 97, comprising controlling access to each file of the content based on the confidentiality level.

103. The method of claim 102, wherein the controlling of the access comprises controlling viewing of each file of the content.

104. The method of claim 102, wherein the controlling of the access comprises controlling downloading of each file of the content.

105. The method of claim 102, wherein the controlling of the access comprises controlling accessing of each file of the content.

106. The method of claim 102, wherein the controlling of the access comprises controlling copying of each file of the content.

107. The method of claim 102, wherein the controlling of the access comprises controlling distributing of each file of the content.

108. The method of claim 95, comprising delineating each file of the content based on inferences made from the content.

109. The method of claim 95, comprising delineating each file of the content based on syntax of the content.

110. The method of claim 95, comprising identifying business content of the content across at least one of the locations and the plurality of agents, wherein the identifying of the business content comprises using at least one of document name, document size, proximity, key word comparison, and hash comparison.

111. The method of claim 1, comprising controlling collaboration among a plurality of devices accessing a file of the content.

112. The method of claim 111, comprising controlling editing of content among a plurality of devices simultaneously editing a file of the content.

113. The method of claim 111, comprising tracking activity involving a file of the content.

114. The method of claim 111, comprising tracking revision history of a file of the content.

115. The method of claim 1, comprising mobile device management that includes monitoring and controlling access to the content via mobile devices.

116. The method of claim 115, wherein the mobile device management comprises tracking location of a mobile device.

117. The method of claim 116, wherein the mobile device management comprises controlling access to the content based on the location.

118. The method of claim 115, wherein the mobile device management comprises tracking data of a mobile device.

119. The method of claim 1, comprising coupling a console to the platform, wherein the console includes automated activity monitoring, auditing, and reporting involving the content.

120. The method of claim 119, comprising controlling via the console activity involving the content.

121. The method of claim 119, comprising controlling via the console the location.

122. The method of claim 120, wherein the controlling of the activity comprises at least one of controlling viewing of each file of the content, controlling downloading of each file of the content, controlling accessing of each file of the content, controlling copying of each file of the content, and controlling distributing of each file of the content.

123. A method comprising:

coupling a platform comprising a processor to a plurality of databases;

forming a grid comprising a plurality of agents coupled to the platform, wherein each agent is an agent of the platform running on a client device;

generating metadata at each agent by hashing a plurality of fragments of content accessible by the agent, wherein the metadata corresponds to the content of memory accessible by a plurality of client devices corresponding to the plurality of agents;

providing the metadata to the platform instead of the content;

generating with the metadata a plurality of tasks including tasks controlling at least one of storing, transferring and processing of the content, wherein a task is a processing operation performed on content accessible by the agent responsible for the task; and

assigning the plurality of tasks to the plurality of agents.

124. A method comprising:

coupling a platform comprising a processor to a plurality of databases;

forming a grid comprising a plurality of agents coupled to the platform, wherein each agent is an agent of the platform running on a client device;

providing to the platform by each agent of each client device metadata of content of memory accessible by the client device;

determining with the metadata locations of the content;

generating goals with the metadata representing operations for maintaining a state of the content;

generating with the metadata a plurality of tasks corresponding to the goals; and

assign each task to an agent having access to the content that corresponds to the task, wherein a task is a processing operation directed by the platform to be performed by an agent on content accessible by the agent, wherein the metadata provided by plurality of agents includes information of the plurality of tasks performed by the plurality of agents.

125. A method comprising:

establishing a coupling between a platform comprising a processor and a plurality of databases;

forming a grid by coupling a plurality of agents to the platform, wherein each agent of the plurality of agents is an agent of the platform running on a client device;

generating metadata at each agent representing content of memory accessible by a plurality of client devices corresponding to the plurality of agents, wherein the generating comprises hashing a plurality of fragments of the content to generate a plurality of blobs representing the plurality of fragments;

providing the metadata to the platform instead of the content;

generating with the metadata a plurality of tasks, wherein a task is a processing operation performed on content accessible by the agent responsible for the task, wherein the plurality of tasks include tasks that at least one of monitor, store, transfer and process the content; and

assigning the plurality of tasks to the plurality of agents.