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US 8,020,047 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for managing storage of data
AssigneeXyratex Technology Limited
InventorTimothy E. G. Courtney
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a method and apparatus for storage of data, data is stored. The stored data is checked, for example periodically and/or on data access, for development of a fault in the stored data. If a fault is detected, at least one of: (i) increased protection and (ii) increased error correction is applied to at least some of the remaining fault-free data.
Claims38
A method of managing storage of data comprising at least one data set, the method comprising:
- classifying data within a data set according to its importance in rendering the data set usable;
- storing the data according to the importance of the data in the data set;
- checking the stored data for development of a fault in the stored data;
- and,
- wherein, after a fault is detected in a data set, the data set comprises faulty data and fault-free data and the method further comprises:
- analysing at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set and reassessing its classification according to its importance in providing a usable data set from the fault-free data alone;
- and
- applying, in dependence upon the classification of the remaining fault-free data in the data set, to at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set at least one of:
- (i) increased protection and (ii) increased error correction.
6 more elements
A method of managing storage of data comprising at least one data set, the method comprising:
- classifying data within a data set according to its importance in rendering the data set usable;
- storing data in at least one storage device;
- monitoring the at least one storage device to determine whether the at least one storage device has failed or is likely to fail within a certain time period;
- and,
- if it is determined that the at least one storage device has failed or is likely to fail within a certain time period such that data in a data set has become faulty or is likely to become faulty, analysing at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set and reassessing its classification according to its importance in rendering the data set usable from the fault-free data alone;
- and,
- maintaining or changing the manner in which the data is stored dependent upon the classification of the data in the data set in providing a usable data set.
4 more elements
Apparatus for managing storage of data comprising at least one data set, the apparatus comprising:
- a classifier arranged to classify data within a data set according to its importance in rendering the data set usable;
- and
- a data storage manager arranged to store the data according to the importance of the data in the data set and to check the stored data for development of a fault in the stored data, wherein, after a fault is detected in a data set, the data set comprises faulty data and fault-free data and, the data storage manager being further arranged;
- to analyse at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set and reassess its classification according to its importance in providing a usable data set from the fault-free data alone and to cause, in dependence upon the classification of the remaining fault-free data in the data set, application to at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set at least one of:
- (i) increased protection and (ii) increased error correction.
2 more elements
Apparatus for managing storage of data comprising at least one data set, the apparatus comprising:
- a classifier arranged to classify data within a data set according to its importance in rendering the data set usable;
- at least one storage device in which data can be stored according to the importance of the data in the data set;
- and,
- a data storage manager arranged to monitor the at least one storage device to determine whether the at least one storage device has failed or is likely to fail within a certain time period, and, if it is determined that the at least one storage device has failed or is likely to fail within a certain time period, such that data in a data set has become faulty or is likely to become faulty;
- and
- to analyse at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set and to reassess its classification according to its importance in rendering the data set usable from the fault-free data alone;
- and
- to cause the manner in which the data is stored to be maintained or changed dependent upon the classification of the data in the data set in providing a usable data set.
5 more elements
A method of managing storage of data comprising at least one data set, the method comprising:
- classifying data within a data set according to its importance in rendering the data set usable;
- storing the data according to the importance of the data in the data set;
- and
- checking the stored data for development of a fault in the stored data;
- wherein, after a fault is detected in a data set, the data set comprises faulty data and fault-free data and the method further comprises:
- analysing at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set and reassessing its classification according to its importance in providing a usable data set from the fault-free data alone;
- and
- determining, based upon said classification, whether measures are required to maintain a usable data set and, if so, applying, in dependence upon the classification of the remaining fault-free data in the data set, to at least some of the remaining fault-free data in the data set at least one of:
- (i) protection or increased protection and (ii) error correction or increased error correction.
6 more elements
An apparatus for managing storage of data comprising at least one data set, the apparatus comprising:
- a classifier arranged to classify data within a data set according to its importance in rendering the data set usable;
- a data storage manager arranged:
- to store the data according to the importance of the data in the data set;
- and
- to check the stored data for development of a fault in the stored data, wherein, after a fault is detected in a data set, the data set comprises faulty data and fault-free data, the classifier being arranged to analyse at least some of the remaining fault-free data and reassess its classification according to its importance in providing a usable data set from the remaining fault-free data alone after a fault has been detected and the data storage manager being further arranged to determine, based upon said classification, whether measures are required to maintain a usable data set and, if so, to cause application, in dependence upon the classification of the remaining fault-free data in the data set, to at least some of the remaining fault-free data at least one of:
- (i) increased protection and (ii) increased error correction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.