# US 10,120,616 B1 · Storage management system and method > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,616 B1 - Document ID: US10120616B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 15/492,651 - Filed: 2017-04-20 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-20 - Assignees: EMC IP Holding Company LLC - Applicants: EMC IP Holding Company, LLC - Inventors: Victor Salamon; Ying Xie - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120616B1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0683: {Plurality of storage devices} - G06F 3/0613: {in relation to throughput} - G06F 3/0647: {Migration mechanisms} - G06F 3/065: {Replication mechanisms} - G06F 3/067: {Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]} - G06F 3/0685: {Hybrid storage combining heterogeneous device types, e.g. hierarchical storage, hybrid arrays} - G06F 13/102: {where the program performs an interfacing function, e.g. device driver (G06F13/105 takes precedence; contention policies within device drivers G06F9/4881; scheduling within device drivers G06F9/52)} - 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] - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A method, computer program product, and computing system for receiving an IO request on a multitier storage system. The multitier storage system includes: a host, a fast storage tier, and at least one slower storage tier. The fast storage tier is coupled to the host using a fast tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower storage tier is coupled to the host using at least one slower tier network infrastructure. The IO request is processed to determine if the IO request is associated with the fast storage tier or the at least one slower storage tier. The IO request is effectuated via one of the fast tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A computer-implemented method, executed on a computing device, comprising: receiving an IO request on a multitier storage system, wherein the multitier storage system includes: a host, a first storage tier, and at least one slower storage tier, wherein the at least one slower storage tier is a slower performance storage tier than the first storage tier, wherein the first storage tier is coupled to the host using a first tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower storage tier is coupled to the host using at least one slower tier network infrastructure; processing the IO request to determine if the IO request is associated with the first storage tier or the at least one slower storage tier; and effectuating the IO request via one of the first tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the IO request is a read request and effectuating the IO request includes: reading data from either the first storage tier via the first tier network infrastructure or the at least one slower storage tier via the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the IO request is a write request and effectuating the IO request includes: writing data to either the first storage tier via the first tier network infrastructure or the at least one slower storage tier via the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the first storage tier is coupled to the at least one slower storage tier using a tier-2-tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein the IO request is a read request concerning a specific data portion, the computer-implemented method further comprising: determining if the specific data portion is in an appropriate storage tier, chosen from the first storage tier and the at least one slower storage tier. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The computer-implemented method of claim 5 further comprising: if the specific data portion is not in the appropriate storage tier, transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier includes: transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier via the tier-2-tier network. ### Claim 8 A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising: receiving an IO request on a multitier storage system, wherein the multitier storage system includes: a host, a first storage tier, and at least one slower storage tier, wherein the at least one slower storage tier is a slower performance storage tier than the first storage tier, wherein the first storage tier is coupled to the host using a first tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower storage tier is coupled to the host using at least one slower tier network infrastructure; processing the IO request to determine if the IO request is associated with the first storage tier or the at least one slower storage tier; and effectuating the IO request via one of the first tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the IO request is a read request and effectuating the IO request includes: reading data from either the first storage tier via the first tier network infrastructure or the at least one slower storage tier via the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the IO request is a write request and effectuating the IO request includes: writing data to either the first storage tier via the first tier network infrastructure or the at least one slower storage tier via the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The computer program product of claim 8 wherein the first storage tier is coupled to the at least one slower storage tier using a tier-2-tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer program product of claim 11 wherein the IO request is a read request concerning a specific data portion, the computer program product further comprising: determining if the specific data portion is in an appropriate storage tier, chosen from the first storage tier and the at least one slower storage tier. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The computer program product of claim 12 further comprising: if the specific data portion is not in the appropriate storage tier, transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The computer program product of claim 13 wherein transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier includes: transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier via the tier-2-tier network. ### Claim 15 A computing system including a processor and memory configured to perform operations comprising: receiving an IO request on a multitier storage system, wherein the multitier storage system includes: a host, a first storage tier, and at least one slower storage tier, wherein the at least one slower storage tier is a slower performance storage tier than the first storage tier, wherein the first storage tier is coupled to the host using a first tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower storage tier is coupled to the host using at least one slower tier network infrastructure; processing the IO request to determine if the IO request is associated with the first storage tier or the at least one slower storage tier; and effectuating the IO request via one of the first tier network infrastructure and the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The computing system of claim 15 wherein the IO request is a read request and effectuating the IO request includes: reading data from either the first storage tier via the first tier network infrastructure or the at least one slower storage tier via the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The computing system of claim 15 wherein the IO request is a write request and effectuating the IO request includes: writing data to either the first storage tier via the first tier network infrastructure or the at least one slower storage tier via the at least one slower tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The computing system of claim 15 wherein the first storage tier is coupled to the at least one slower storage tier using a tier-2-tier network infrastructure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The computing system of claim 18 wherein the IO request is a read request concerning a specific data portion, the computer-implemented method further comprising: determining if the specific data portion is in the appropriate storage tier, chosen from the first storage tier and the at least one slower storage tier. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The computing system of claim 19 further configured to perform operations comprising: if the specific data portion is not in the appropriate storage tier, transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The computing system of claim 20 wherein transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier includes: transferring the specific data portion to the appropriate storage tier via the tier-2-tier network.