Storage management system with file aggregation
US6098074A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99953
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data storage subsystem employs managed files, each comprising one or an aggregation of multiple individual, constituent user files, to reduce file management overhead costs. After receiving user files from a client station, the subsystem creates a contiguous managed file by aggregating selected ones of the received user files according to certain predetermined criteria. Managed file creation and use are transparent to the client stations. To aid in file management, the subsystem provides a mapping table that lists, for each user file, a corresponding location of that user file within a managed file. With this hardware and table structure, the system conducts file management with reduced overhead. For example, internal data management operations include an improved copy operation where a managed file is copied as a contiguous unit between first and second locations in the data storage subsystem. In addition to internal data management operations, the subsystem satisfies client output requests, including retrieve operations initiated when the subsystem receives a retrieval request and identified user file from a client station. In response, the subsystem employs the mapping table t…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.