Emc Corporation

Storage Technology Corporation

Pi-coral, Inc.

Other

Emc IP Holding Company LLC

Roger Frederick Osmond

Gil Goren

Joseph E Massery

Michael D Mancusi

Michael J Fitzgerald

Uday K Gupta

Data storage is improved by combining content indexing and data reduction in text-containing files by using common word elimination. Raw data is processed by finding words in selected files, creating an index of found words, and replacing the words in the raw data with pointers to the corresponding words in the index. Each word appears only once in the index. Consequently, the index is relatively small and the procedure is completely reversible. In particular, the index is small relative to other methods because the data is transformed in place, and the transformed data and index are used together to capture the total information about the data.

Combined content indexing and data reduction

A logical apparatus and associated methods provide highly scalable and flexible data storage in a network of computers. The apparatus provides flexible organizational and access control mechanisms and a practical and efficient way to work with smaller portions of a data storage system at a given time to enable sparse population, caching, paging and related functions. A data structure, called a virtual container, comprises references to objects stored in a data storage system such that the same object can be visible from different virtual containers, if such virtual containers hold references to said object. Access controls further enhance the effectiveness of the methods and structures to enable multiple simultaneous organizational schemes and selective sharing of objects. Participating nodes provide access to objects stored on said nodes and their participating peer nodes, employing the data storage apparatus, such that balance in the network is achieved by data placement decisions that may combine common constraints and a node's individual self interest.

Method and apparatus for large scale data storage

A method for making data placement decisions in a computer network uses multiple factors comprising social rules (rules, factors and criteria common to all participating nodes and intended to benefit the community of nodes), as well as rules, factors and criteria driven by individual self-interest of the participating nodes. The method calls for each node to act in a semi-autonomous manner, without the need for a central coordinating node. By considering multiple factors fully, and not eliminating factors by a sequence of True/False decisions, the method may arrive at optimal decisions and may generate a ranked list of node candidates.

Method for making intelligent data placement decisions in a computer network

A method for making optimal decisions includes the ability to consider and weigh multiple factors, where those factors might be numeric, or non-numeric, objective or subjective. Further, the method ensures that factors are not prematurely eliminated. This contrasts with behavior common to decision-tree based approaches. The method further allows for weighting based on multiple statistical means as well as by the application of non-statistical values.

Method for making optimal selections based on multiple objective and subjective criteria

A method to improve the effectiveness of hash-based data structures includes configuration of a data structure and transformation of hash codes as produced by a hash function, to yield a more uniform distribution of data amongst the slots in a data structure. Transformation results in a non-uniform but predictable distribution of hash codes. Configuration exploits the predictable nature of the transformed hash codes to accomplish more uniform and therefore more efficient distribution of items stored in a hash-based data structure.

Method for improving the effectiveness of hash-based data structures

A data storage architecture for networked access by clients includes a file server capable of communication with the clients via the network, physical storage organized as a plurality of logical volumes, and an encryption device in communication with both the file server and the physical storage.

Identifying and enforcing strict file confidentiality in the presence of system and storage administrators in a NAS system

A data storage architecture for networked access by clients includes a file server capable of communication with the clients via the network, physical storage organized as a plurality of logical volumes, and an encryption device in communication with both the file server and the physical storage. The encryption device is operable in response to signaling from the file server, including an indication of a range of blocks of data, to cause encryption of the range of blocks with an encryption key that is unique within the physical storage. The encryption device includes nested tables mapping block ranges to encryption keys. Consequently, undesirable key sharing across files, file systems, and other units can be avoided down to the block level.

Achieving strong cryptographic correlation between higher level semantic units and lower level components in a secure data storage system

A data storage architecture for networked access by clients includes a file server capable of communication with the clients via the network, physical storage organized as a plurality of logical volumes, and an encryption device in communication with both the file server and the physical storage. The encryption device is operable in response to signaling from the file server to cause encryption of data being moved into the physical storage, and decryption of data being retrieved from storage. Two logical paths are provided for I/O operations. A first path is reserved for use by a first type of requestor, such as file owners. Data retrieved via the first path is decrypted by the encryption device, and Writes via the first path are allowed. A second path is employed for others than the owners, e.g., administrators. Data retrieved via the second path is not decrypted by the encryption device, and attempted Writes via the second first path are denied. Metadata may be delivered in-the-clear via both paths in response to a Read so that legitimate management tasks can be performed.

A system and method for interconnecting a plurality of network components to form a local area network (LAN) include a wiring manager having at least one port module connected to a controller via a data signal bus on a passive backplane. Each port module includes a plurality of ports which can be programmed to electrically couple selected sets of the plurality of network components without physically rerouting network cabling. A LAN management system provides a graphical user interface to communicate with the wiring manager and provide network status information and control the wiring manager to configure the network.

Programmable matrix switch

A wiring hub for interconnecting a plurality of network components to form a local area network, the wiring hub including a data signal bus and a programmable switching mechanism connected to the data signal bus. The switching mechanism includes a plurality of ports each of which can be electrically coupled to a different one of the plurality of network components so as to pass communications signals to and receive communications signals from the network component to which it is coupled. The programmable switching mechanism interconnects a selectable set of the plurality of ports together through the data signal bus and in any user selectable ordered sequence.

Reconfigurable matrix switch for managing the physical layer of local area network

A method and apparatus for providing an HTML applications development environment is disclosed. The applications development environment is used to develop large HTML based applications. The invention includes a preprocessor and associated preprocessor commands which are inserted into a source HTML file. The preprocessor reads the source file, evaluates the preprocessor commands, and makes the appropriate substitutions into an output HTML file.

Method and apparatus for providing an applications development system for internet based applications

Matrix switch for a network management system

An encryption service in a manager encrypts network management information with a secret key that can be recognized by an agent to which the message is directed. The encryption service invokes an SNMP message transmission service in the manager to form a secure SNMP message having an apparent Object ID (OID) that identifies a decryption service in the agent and having an apparent Value that includes the encryption result. The SNMP message transmission service invokes a communication protocol service in the manager to send the secure SNMP message to the agent. A communication protocol service in the agent receives the secure SNMP message, and passes the received message to an SNMP message reception service in the agent. The SNMP message reception service checks whether or not a Community Name visible in the secure SNMP message is appropriate for access to the agent, and if so, searches a Management Information Base (MIB) in the agent for a sub-agent corresponding to the apparent OID, and if such a sub-agent is found, dispatches the apparent Value of the apparent OID to the sub-agent. The sub-agent decrypts the encryption result in the apparent Value, and rejects the message if the sub-agent is unable to recognize a secret key authorized for access to the agent.

Secure transmission using an ordinarily insecure network communication

A method and apparatus for managing a network attached storage system is presented which includes a web based user interface. The interface allows for the execution of many different commands on several different storage system attributes without loss of context between command execution. The interface is HTML based and provides dynamic construction of Javascript object lists based on a database read by a CGI program executing on an HTTP server. The interface eliminates the hierarchical structure of menu navigation associated with other interfaces.

Growing community of inventors

Littleton, MA, United States of America

Roger Frederick Osmond