US 6,330,572 B1 · Hierarchical data storage management

Abstract

A system and method for managing the storage of files within an HSM system incorporate an architecture and methodology that facilitate the storage and retrieval of large image files as part of an overall image processing workflow. In particular, the system and method may find ready application in a workflow that involves the processing of groups of images associated with particular customers, projects, or transactions, and may act as a storage server for a client application that implements the workflow. The system and method may be useful, for example, in handling the storage of images uploaded from scanned photographic film, or digital images submitted to a photo-processing shop by amateur or professional photographers. In this case, the client application can be a photo-processing application that could provide for various media formats, sizes, and quantities of image reproductions for a consumer. As another example, the system and method may be useful in handling the storage of medical diagnostic images associated with a particular medical patient or study. In this case, the client application could be a picture archival communication system (PACS) that manages the archival of imagery for viewing by physicians. Further, the system and method may be useful in handling the storage of images associated with particular printing jobs, e.g., for publishers, advertising customers, and the like. In this case, the client application could be a digital prepress workflow application.

Claims32

Dependent claims

A method for storing files among a hierarchy of data storage media in a hierarchical storage management system, the method comprising:

assigning the files to filesets, each of the files assigned to a respective one of the filesets sharing one or more common attributes with the other files assigned to the respective fileset;
storing the files assigned to the respective fileset together on a common data storage medium at a first level in the hierarchy of data storage media;
and
moving the files assigned to the respective fileset together from the common data storage medium to another common data storage medium at a second level in the hierarchy of data storage media, such that the files assigned to the respective fileset are stored together on one of the data storage media at substantially all times.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hierarchical data storage management

Life of this patent

Hierarchical data storage management

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims32