# US 2026/0086731 A1 · Proactive data management in distributed systems > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2026/0086731 A1 - Document ID: US20260086731A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/890,978 - Filed: 2024-09-20 - Published: 2026-03-26 - Earliest claimed: 2024-09-20 - Assignees: Dell Products L.P. - Applicants: Dell Products L.P. - Inventors: WILLIAM JEFFERY WHITE; MAXIM BALIN; SAID TABET - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20260086731A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0655: {Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices} - G06F 3/0611: {in relation to response time} - G06F 3/067: {Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Methods and systems for providing computer implemented services are disclosed. To provide the services, control variables may be obtained and used to manage operation of the distributed system. The operation may be proactively managed by enforcing data placement standards throughout the system based, at least in part, on the control variables. The enforcement may be performed by identifying preferred placement locations based on the control variables, policies, and/or other factors. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for managing operation of a distributed system, the method comprising: analyzing, by a control system of the distributed system, control variables to be used in a next control window for the distributed system, data placement information for data of the distributed system, and policies applicable to the data to obtain a set of preferred storage locations for copies of the data during the next control window; generating, by the control system and based on the set of preferred storage locations, data management instructions for the distributed system and metadata documenting changes in placements of the data, the metadata being generated using the data management instructions and is stored by the control system into a data placement repository from which the data placement information is obtained; distributing, by the control system, the data management instructions to initiate performance of actions by the distributed system to conform to, at least, the preferred storage locations to obtain an updated distributed system; and providing, by at least the updated distributed system, computer implemented services during the control window using, at least in part, new placement locations for the copies of the data. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the copies of the data are managed by the distributed system using an immutable ledger to ensure provenance. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the policies define usability expectations for the data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the usability expectations comprise: read latency for the data used in the computer implemented services; level of consistency of the copies of the data; and security posture of host devices for the copies of the data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the usability expectations comprise: write latency for the data used in the computer implemented services; structure requirements for the copies of the data; and metadata requirements for the copies of the data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the usability expectations are used to qualify devices of the distributed system with respect to storing any of the copies of the data. ### Claim 7 (canceled) ### Claim 8 A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a processor, cause operations for managing a distributed system to be performed, the operations comprising: analyzing, by a control system of the distributed system, control variables to be used in a next control window for the distributed system, data placement information for data of the distributed system, and policies applicable to the data to obtain a set of preferred storage locations for copies of the data during the next control window; generating, by the control system and based on the set of preferred storage locations, data management instructions for the distributed system and metadata documenting changes in placements of the data, the metadata being generated using the data management instructions and is stored by the control system into a data placement repository from which the data placement information is obtained; distributing, by the control system, the data management instructions to initiate performance of actions by the distributed system to conform to, at least, the preferred storage locations to obtain an updated distributed system; and providing, by at least the updated distributed system, computer implemented services during the control window using, at least in part, new placement locations for the copies of the data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the copies of the data are managed by the distributed system using an immutable ledger to ensure provenance. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 8, wherein the policies define usability expectations for the data. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the usability expectations comprise: read latency for the data used in the computer implemented services; level of consistency of the copies of the data; and security posture of host devices for the copies of the data. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the usability expectations comprise: write latency for the data used in the computer implemented services; structure requirements for the copies of the data; and metadata requirements for the copies of the data. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein the usability expectations are used to qualify devices of the distributed system with respect to storing any of the copies of the data. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the control variables are analyzed to identify likelihoods of any of the devices using any of the copies of the data during the next control window. ### Claim 15 A data processing system, comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor to store instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause operations for managing a distributed system to be performed, the operations comprising: analyzing, by a control system of the distributed system, control variables to be used in a next control window for the distributed system, data placement information for data of the distributed system, and policies applicable to the data to obtain a set of preferred storage locations for copies of the data during the next control window; generating, by the control system and based on the set of preferred storage locations, data management instructions for the distributed system and metadata documenting changes in placements of the data, the metadata being generated using the data management instructions and is stored by the control system into a data placement repository from which the data placement information is obtained; distributing, by the control system, the data management instructions to initiate performance of actions by the distributed system to conform to, at least, the preferred storage locations to obtain an updated distributed system; and providing, by at least the updated distributed system, computer implemented services during the control window using, at least in part, new placement locations for the copies of the data. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the copies of the data are managed by the distributed system using an immutable ledger to ensure provenance. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The data processing system of claim 15, wherein the policies define usability expectations for the data. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the usability expectations comprise: read latency for the data used in the computer implemented services; level of consistency of the copies of the data; and security posture of host devices for the copies of the data. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The data processing system of claim 17, wherein the usability expectations comprise: write latency for the data used in the computer implemented services; structure requirements for the copies of the data; and metadata requirements for the copies of the data. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The data processing system of claim 19, wherein the usability expectations are used to qualify devices of the distributed system with respect to storing any of the copies of the data. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data placement information stored in the data placement repository is updated using the metadata, and an updating of the data placement repository triggers performance of a synchronization process by the control system where the control system propagates the changes in the data placement to immutable ledgers maintained by devices of the distributed system.