Data access management system as well as a method for data access and data management for a computer system

• US 7,904,680 B2
• Filed: 07/23/2005
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AC Technologies SA
• Original Assignee: AC Technologies SA
• Inventors: Binzinger, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Portka; Gary J
• Application Number:
  US11/188,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20050273504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,054 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/162
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/2094 Redundant storage or storage space G06F11/2056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0604 Improving or facilitating administration, e.g. storage management
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/065 Replication mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1095 Replication or mirroring of data, e.g. scheduling or transport for data synchronisation between network nodes
• 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

The present invention permits improved data access and improved data management in a computer system. To this end, data are divided into individual partial data (F) and stored in cells (Z) of storage devices (C) in such a way that the partial data (F) being accessed and managed are present in the computer system in a redundant manner. Computer units (CL) are able to access the redundantly stored data. The fact that they are stored in the storage devices (C) ensures that the computer units (CL) accessing said data are supplied more rapidly. This is achieved in particular owing to the fact that the redundantly stored data are accessed in accordance with parameters of data transmissions between the computer units (CL) and the data storage devices (C) and that, in accordance with said data transmission parameters, the redundantly stored data are moved to and from the data storage devices (C) by corresponding copy and delete operations.

Claims

1. A data management system comprising:

at least two data storage units;

at least one computer unit that stores at least one complete file, each file including a plurality of individual pieces, the pieces containing parts of the files, wherein at least one piece is stored in a redundant manner in the at least two data storage units;

a controller to enable data transmission between the data storage units and the computer unit;

wherein at least one of the data storage units and computer unit measures a data transmission performance between at least one of the data storage units and the computer unit, the at least one piece being stored by the computer unit in a redundant manner in the data storage units as a function of the measured data transmission performance, and the computer unit accessing the at least one of the data storage units as a function of the measured data transmission performance; and

wherein at least one of the at least two data storage units measures a data transmission performance between at least two of the at least two data storage units and the data storage units copy pieces that are redundantly stored in the system from one of the data storage units to another of the data storage units independently of an access of the computer unit based on the data transmission performance measured between the data storage units.

2. The data management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer unit and the at least two data storage units are connected over a wireless network.

3. A data management system comprising:

at least one computer unit that stores at least one complete file, each file including a plurality of individual pieces, the pieces containing parts of the files; and

at least two data storage units that need not store the complete file stored in the at least one computer unit at a given point in time, wherein at least one piece is stored in a redundant manner in the at least two data storage units;

a controller to enable data transmission between the data storage units and the computer unit;

wherein at least one of the data storage units and computer unit measures a data transmission performance between at least one of the data storage units and the computer unit, the at least one piece being stored by the computer unit in a redundant manner in data storage units as a function of the measured data transmission performance, and the computer unit accessing the at least one of the data storage units as a function of the measured data transmission performance; and

wherein at least one of the at least two data storage units measures a data transmission performance between at least two of the at least two data storage units and the data storage units copy pieces that are redundantly stored in the system from one of the data storage units to another of the data storage units independently of an access of the computer unit based on the data transmission performance measured between the data storage units.

4. The data management system of claim 3, wherein the at least one computer unit and the at least two data storage units are connected over a wireless network.

5. A data management system comprising:

at least one first means for storing at least one complete file, each file including a plurality of individual pieces, the pieces containing parts of the files; and

at least two second data storage means for storing data, that need not store the complete file stored in the first means at a given point in time, wherein at least one piece is stored in a redundant manner in the at least two second data storage means;

control means for enabling data transmission between the second data storage means and the first means;

wherein at least one of the first means for storing or second data storage means measures a data transmission performance between at least one of the second data storage means and the first means, the at least one piece being stored by the first means in a redundant manner in the second data storage means as a function of the measured data transmission performance, and the second data storage means accessing the at least one of the second data storage means as a function of the measured data transmission performance; and

wherein at least one of the at least two second data storage means measures a data transmission performance between at least two of the at least two second data storage units and the second data storage means copy pieces that are redundantly stored in the system from one of the second data storage means to another of the second data storage means independently of an access of the first data storage means based on the measured data transmission performance between the second data storage means.

6. The data management system of claim 5, wherein the at least one first means and the at least two second data storage means are connected over a wireless network.

7. A method for a data storage device to copy data over a network by receiving data from or sending data to at least one of a plurality of data storage devices in which data is stored redundantly as a function of measured data transmission performance between computer units that store at least one complete file of data, each file including a plurality of individual pieces of data, the pieces containing parts of the file, and between the plurality of data storage devices, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving in the at least one data storage device at least one piece of data stored by a computer unit in a redundant manner in at least two data storage devices as a function of a measured data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and the computer unit;

storing in the at least one data storage device the received piece of data;

measuring by the at least one data storage device a data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and another one of the plurality of data storage devices; and

sending from the at least one data storage device to the another data storage device a copy of the received piece of data for redundant storage independently of an access of the computer unit as a function of the measured data transmission performance between the data storage devices.

8. A method for a data storage device to copy data over a network as recited in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

receiving in the at least one data storage device a second piece of data stored by a computer unit in a redundant manner in at least two data storage devices as a function of a measured data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and the computer unit;

storing in the at least one data storage device the received second piece of data;

measuring by the at least one data storage device a data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and another one of the plurality of data storage devices; and

sending from the at least one data storage device to the another data storage device a copy of the received second piece of data for redundant storage independently of an access of the computer unit as a function of the measured data transmission performance between the data storage devices.

9. A method for a data storage device to copy data over a network as recited in claim 8, wherein pieces of data are received, stored and sent between the plurality of data storage devices until the complete file of data has been received.

10. A method of operating a network over which a plurality of data storage devices copy data which is redundantly stored as a function of measured data transmission performance between computer units that store at least one complete file of data, each file including a plurality of individual pieces of data, the pieces containing parts of the file, and between the plurality of data storage devices, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a transmission medium enabling transmission of the data between one or more of the plurality of data storage devices and the computer unit; and

providing access by a user of at least one data storage device to the transmission medium for;

(i) receiving in the at least one data storage device at least one piece of data stored by a computer unit in a redundant manner in at least two data storage devices as a function of a measured data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and the computer unit;

(ii) storing in the at least one data storage device the received piece of data;

(iii) measuring by the at least one data storage device a data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and another one of the plurality of data storage devices; and

(iv) sending from the at least one data storage device to the another data storage device a copy of the received piece of data for redundant storage independently of an access of the computer unit as a function of the measured data transmission performance between the data storage devices.

11. A method of operating a network over which a plurality of data storage devices copy data, as recited in claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

providing access by the user of the at least one data storage device to the transmission medium for;

(i) receiving in the at least one data storage device a second piece of data stored by a computer unit in a redundant manner in at least two data storage devices as a function of a measured data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and the computer unit;

(ii) storing in the at least one data storage device the received second piece of data;

(iii) measuring by the at least one data storage device a data transmission performance between the at least one data storage device and another one of the plurality of data storage devices; and

(iv) sending from the at least one data storage device to the another data storage device a copy of the received second piece of data for redundant storage independently of an access of the computer unit as a function of the measured data transmission performance between the data storage devices.

12. A method of operating a network over which a plurality of data storage devices copy data, as recited in claim 11, wherein pieces of data are received, stored and sent between the plurality of data storage devices until the complete file of data has been received.

13. A data storage device for copying data over a network by receiving data from or sending data to at least one of a plurality of data storage devices in which data is stored redundantly as a function of measured data transmission performance between computer units that store at least one complete file of data, each file including a plurality of individual pieces of data, the pieces containing parts of the file, and between the plurality of data storage devices, comprising:

a memory configured to store data received by the data storage device; and

a processor, connected to said memory, configured to;

(i) receive at least one piece of data stored by a computer unit in a redundant manner in at least two data storage devices as a function of a measured data transmission performance between the data storage device and the computer unit;

(ii) store in said memory the received piece of data;

(iii) measure a data transmission performance between the data storage device and another one of the plurality of data storage devices; and

(iv) send from the data storage device to the another data storage device a copy of the received piece of data for redundant storage independently of an access of the computer unit as a function of the measured data transmission performance between the data storage devices.

14. A data storage device for copying data over a network as recited in claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to:

(v) receive a second piece of data stored by a computer unit in a redundant manner in at least two data storage devices as a function of a measured data transmission performance between the data storage device and the computer unit;

(vi) store in said memory the received second piece of data;

(vii) measure a data transmission performance between the data storage device and another one of the plurality of data storage devices; and

(viii) send from the data storage device to the another data storage device a copy of the received second piece of data for redundant storage independently of an access of the computer unit as a function of the measured data transmission performance between the data storage devices.

15. A data storage device for copying data over a network as recited in claim 14, wherein the processor is further configured to receive, store in said memory, and send between the plurality of data storage devices until the complete file of data has been received.