| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090094250 | Ensuring data integrity on a dispersed storage grid - An improved system is disclosed for ensuring the integrity of data stored on a dispersed data storage network. Checksums are used to ensure integrity of both data segments and data slices. Checksums appended to data slices are checked by receiving slice servers to ensure that no errors occurred during transmission. Slice servers also periodically recalculate checksums for stored data slices to ensure that data slices have not been corrupted during storage. Checksums appended to data segments are checked when data segments are read from the storage network. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090094251 | Virtualized data storage vaults on a dispersed data storage network - A system, method, and apparatus for implementing a plurality of dispersed data storage networks using a set of slice servers are disclosed. A plurality of information records are maintained, with each information record corresponding to a dispersed data storage network. The information record maintains what slice servers are used to implement the dispersed data storage network, as well as other information needed to administer a DDSN, such as the information dispersal algorithm used, how data is stored, and whether data is compressed or encrypted. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090094318 | Smart access to a dispersed data storage network - An improved system for accessing data within a distributed data storage network (“DDSN”) is disclosed. In a system implementing the disclosed invention, traffic is routed to individual slice servers within the DDSN in accordance with objective criteria as well as user-defined policies. In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed invention, when a data segment is written to a DDSN, the segment is divided into multiple data slices, which are simultaneously transmitted to different slice servers. In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed invention, when a data segment is read from a DDSN, a list of slice servers, each containing a data slice that could be used to reconstruct the requested data segment, is assembled, and sorted in accordance with a preference rating assigned to each of the slice servers. Sufficient data slices to reconstruct the data segment are then read in accordance with the preference ranking of the slice servers. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090094320 | File system adapted for use with a dispersed data storage network - A file system interface to a dispersed data storage network is disclosed. The disclosed interface accepts read and write commands from a file system resident on a user's computer and generates network commands that are forwarded to slice servers that form the storage component of the dispersed data storage network. The slice servers then fulfill the read and write commands. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20100023524 | Block based access to a dispersed data storage network - A block-based interface to a dispersed data storage network is disclosed. The disclosed interface accepts read and write commands from a file system resident on a user's computer and generates network commands that are forwarded to slice servers that form the storage component of the dispersed data storage network. The slice servers then fulfill the read and write commands. | 01-28-2010 |
| 20100115063 | SMART ACCESS TO A DISPERSED DATA STORAGE NETWORK - A method for reading data from a dispersed data storage network that includes a plurality of slice servers. The method begins by accessing a list of slice servers of the plurality of slice servers, wherein each slice server on the list stores at least one data slice associated with a data segment of the data. The method continues by transmitting read requests to at least some of the slice servers on the list. The method continues by receiving a data slice from a slice server on the list. The method continues by determining whether a threshold number of data slices has been received. The method continues, when the threshold number of data slices has been received, assembling the data segment from at least the threshold number of data slices. | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100161916 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REBUILDING DATA IN A DISPERSED DATA STORAGE NETWORK - A method begins by identifying a data slice requiring rebuilding to produce an identified data slice, wherein the identified data slice is one of a plurality of data slices that constitute a data segment and wherein each of the plurality of data slices is assigned for storage by a corresponding one of a plurality of data slice servers. The method continues by retrieving at least m number of data slices from at least m number of the plurality of data slice servers, wherein m data slices of the plurality of data slices enable reconstruction of the data segment, and wherein the at least m number of data slices does not include the identified data slice. The method continues by reconstructing the identified data slice from the at least m number of data slices to produce a rebuilt data slice. The method continues by writing the rebuilt data slice to the corresponding one of the plurality of data slice servers or to a new slice server. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100179966 | VIRTUALIZED DATA STORAGE VAULTS ON A DISPERSED DATA STORAGE NETWORK - A dispersed data storage system includes a plurality of slice servers. In the system, a first set of the slice servers supports a first virtual digital data storage vault and a second set of the slice servers supports a second virtual digital data storage vault. A slice server is in the first and second sets and functions to: receive a request to access a virtual digital data storage vault; determine whether the virtual digital data storage vault is the first or the second virtual digital data storage vault; when the virtual digital data storage vault is the first or the second virtual digital data storage vault, determine whether the request is valid; and when the request is valid, execute the request to generate a response. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100306578 | RANGE BASED REBUILDER FOR USE WITH A DISPERSED DATA STORAGE NETWORK - A message is generated by a computer operating on a dispersed data storage network indicating the inaccessibility of a plurality of data slices. A rebuilder application operates on the dispersed data storage grid and rebuilds inaccessible data slices, including those identified by the message. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20110029711 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SLICE PARTIAL REBUILDING IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK - A dispersed storage system includes a plurality of storage units that each include a partial rebuild grid module. The partial rebuild grid module includes partial rebuilding functionality to reconstruct one of a plurality of encoded data slices wherein the plurality of encoded data slices are generated from a data segment based on an error encoding dispersal function. In the partial rebuilding process, a data slice is rebuilt by combining in any order slice partials generated from at least a threshold number T of the plurality of data slices. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110029731 | DISPERSED STORAGE WRITE PROCESS - A dispersed storage (DS) method begins by issuing a plurality of write commands to a plurality of DS storage units. The method continues by receiving a write acknowledgement from one of the plurality of DS storage units to produce a received write acknowledgement. The method continues by issuing a plurality of commit commands to the plurality of DS storage units when a write threshold number of the received write acknowledgements have been received. The method continues by receiving a commit acknowledgement from a DS storage unit of the plurality of DS storage units to produce a received commit acknowledgement. The method continues by issuing a plurality of finalize commands to the plurality of DS storage units when a write threshold number of the received commit acknowledgements have been received. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110029809 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DISTRIBUTED STORAGE INTEGRITY PROCESSING - A distributed storage integrity system in a dispersed storage network includes a scanning agent and a control unit. The scanning agent identifies an encoded data slice that requires rebuilding, wherein the encoded data slice is one of a plurality of encoded data slices generated from a data segment using an error encoding dispersal function. The control unit retrieves at least a number T of encoded data slices needed to reconstruct the data segment based on the error encoding dispersal function. The control unit is operable to reconstruct the data segment from at least the number T of the encoded data slices and generate a rebuilt encoded data slice from the reconstructed data segment. The scanning agent is located in a storage unit and the control unit is located in the storage unit or in a storage integrity processing unit, a dispersed storage processing unit or a dispersed storage managing unit. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110029836 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR STORAGE INTEGRITY PROCESSING BASED ON ERROR TYPES IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK - A storage integrity system in a dispersed storage network scans an address range of data slices to identify errors in one of a plurality of encoded data slices, wherein the plurality of encoded data slices are generated from a data segment using an error encoding dispersal function. When the storage integrity system detects an error, it identifies one of the encoded data slices for rebuilding. The identified data slice is rebuilt in response to the type of error. For example, when the type of the error includes a temporary error, the storage integrity system waits a predetermined time period to determine whether the error still exists prior to rebuilding the identified data slice. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110071988 | DATA REVISION SYNCHRONIZATION IN A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK - A method begins by a processing module determining dispersed storage (DS) units that are storing a set of encoded data slices associated with a data segment and sending a revision level check request message to each of the DS units. The method continues with the processing module receiving revision level check response messages from at least some of the DS units within a time period to produce received revision level check response messages and determining concurrency of a revision level of the set of encoded data slices stored by the DS units based on the received revision level check response messages. The method continues with the processing module initiating a revision concurrency process when less than a threshold number of encoded data slices have concurrency of the revision level. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110072115 | BLOCK BASED ACCESS TO A DISPERSED DATA STORAGE NETWORK - A computer includes a data transform algorithm, a data dispersal algorithm, and a network port. The data transform algorithm performs a data transformation on a data block to produce a transformed data block. The data dispersal algorithm performs a data dispersal function on the transformed data block to produce a plurality of data slices, wherein each of the plurality of data slices includes less than all data contained in the transformed data block. The network port is operable to transmit a plurality of write commands to a plurality of slice servers, wherein each of the plurality of write commands includes a corresponding one of the plurality of data slices. The network port is further operable to receive verification of storage of at least some of the plurality of data slices from at least some of the plurality of slice servers. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110102546 | DISPERSED STORAGE CAMERA DEVICE AND METHOD OF OPERATION - A distributed storage network contains a user device that has a computing core, a DSN interface and either an integrated or an externally-connected camera or sensor. The camera or sensor collects data from its surrounding environment and processes the data at least partially through error coding dispersal storage functions that include slicing the data into a plurality of error-coded data slices. The error-coded data slices are output by the user device for one or more of storage within a dispersed storage network (DSN) memory, playing on a destination player, or broadcast consumption over a network. A storage integrity unit manages the storage capacity, use, and/or throughput of the system to ensure that data is processing in a real time or near real time so that data can be accurately processed and perceived by targeted end users. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110106769 | DISTRIBUTED STORAGE NETWORK THAT PROCESSES DATA IN EITHER FIXED OR VARIABLE SIZES - A distributed storage network receives a data object and determines a size of the data object. The network then determines whether the data object should be segmented into fixed size segments or variable sizes segments based upon some variable-length algorithm. If the fixed approach is selected, the data object is segmented into two or more fixed size segments with attached header information and the information is further processed using error coding dispersal storage functions within the network. If the variable approach is selected, the data object is segmented into two or more variable-sized segments with attached header information and the information is further processed using error coding dispersal storage functions within the network. Both the variable and fixed approaches enable storage of error-correctable data slices in a distributed storage manner. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110107036 | DISTRIBUTED STORAGE REVISION ROLLBACKS - Multiple revisions of an encoded data slice can be stored in a distributed storage unit. Before writing a new revision of an encoded data slice to storage, the distributed storage unit can invoke a write lock for all encoded data slices having the same slice name as the slice being currently written. The slice being currently written can be stored in temporary storage, and a rollback timer started. If a commit command is received before expiration of the rollback timer, the currently written slice can be permanently stored and made accessible for read requests. If the rollback timer expires prior to the storage unit receiving a commit command, however, a previously stored revision will be used. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110107113 | DISTRIBUTED STORAGE NETWORK DATA REVISION CONTROL - Multiple revisions of an encoded data slice are generated, with each revision having the same slice name. Each of the data slices represents the same original data portion, but each is encoded so that no single data slice can be used to reconstruct the original data portion. Appropriate revision numbers are associated with each encoded data slice, and the encoded data slices and associated revision numbers are transmitted for storage in selected storage units of a distributed storage network. If write confirmations are received from at least a write threshold number of storage units, a commit command is transmitted so that the most recently written data slices will be available for access. After a commit command is issued, a current directory used to access the encoded data slices can be sliced, encoded, and stored in the same way as the data slices. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110161681 | DIRECTORY SYNCHRONIZATION OF A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK - A method begins by a processing module dispersed storage error encoding data to produce a set of encoded data slices and generating a transaction identifier regarding storage of the set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module outputting a plurality of write request messages to a plurality of dispersed storage (DS) units, wherein each of the plurality of write request messages includes the transaction identifier and a corresponding one of the set of encoded data slices. The method continues with the processing module receiving write response messages from at least some of the DS units, wherein each of the write response messages includes a reference to the transaction identifier. The method continues with the processing module updating directory information regarding storage of the data to produce updated directory information when at least a write threshold number of the write response messages have been received. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110161754 | REVISION SYNCHRONIZATION OF A DISPERSED STORAGE NETWORK - A method begins by a processing module receiving a write request message from a dispersed storage (DS) processing module, wherein the write request message includes a slice name, a DS processing module most-recent slice revision, a new slice revision, and an encoded directory slice of directory information regarding storage of data. The method continues with the processing module obtaining, from local memory, a DS unit most-recent slice revision based on the slice name. The method continues with the processing module storing the new slice revision as the DS unit most-recent slice revision and storing the encoded directory slice when the DS unit most-recent slice revision compares favorably to the DS processing module most-recent slice revision. | 06-30-2011 |
