US 6,606,693 B1 · Method and system for long-term digital data storage

Abstract

An archival system of the present invention includes a controller and multiple storage mediums that are used for long-term storage of vast amounts of digital data. The archival system verifies that the original digital data remains intact and error-free, byte-by-byte, through time. The archival system makes it possible to migrate the digital data files onto new storage media, correct byte-by-byte to the original files, as new storage media and machines are developed and proven. The system also allows data to be accessed that is then-currently needed, while the storage of the data continues on in time, undisturbed and uncorrupted. The archival system enhances the security of the archived data through physical movement of duplicated archival data storage mediums to remote locations. This invention for long-term, error free storage of digital files solves (provides the solution for) the problems of backward-read compatibility and the uncertainty of storage media failure.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A long-term storage system for storing data from a source medium, the system comprising:

a first long-term data storage medium array having a plurality of long-term data storage medium, each of said plurality of long-term data storage medium storing the same data;
and,
a controller for writing the data to each of said plurality of long-term data storage medium from a reference medium and verifying that the data written to each of said plurality of long-term data storage medium is the same as the data stored on the reference medium, and at a later time polling the data written to each of said plurality of long-term data storage medium to ensure that the data stored on each of said plurality of long-term data storage medium is the same.

A method for long-term storage of data stored on a source medium, the method comprising:

storing the data on the source medium to a first long-term data storage medium, and determining if the data stored on the first long-term data storage medium is the same as the data stored on the source medium and discarding the first long-term data storage medium if the data is not the same;
storing the data on the first long-term data storage medium to a second long-term data storage medium, and determining if the data stored on the second long-term data storage medium is the same as the data stored on the first long-term data storage medium and discarding the second long-term data storage medium if the data is not the same;
and,
polling, at a later time, the data written to each of said plurality of long-term data storage medium.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for long-term digital data storage

Life of this patent

Method and system for long-term digital data storage

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23