Methods for managing content stored in cloud-based storages

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9740435-B2
Application number	US-201213406085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2012
Priority date	Feb 27, 2012
Publication date	Aug 22, 2017
Grant date	Aug 22, 2017

Abstract

A server receives over a network from a client a request for accessing files stored in a plurality of heterogeneous storage devices hosted by a plurality of storage providers over the network, including a first storage device of a first storage provider and a second storage device of a second storage provider. In response, the server accesses, on behalf of a user of the client, the first storage device and the second storage device to retrieve information concerning the files. The server transmits data to the client over the network, the data representing a logical file system view of the files without exposing actual storage locations of the files stored in the first and second storage devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method for managing content stored in a heterogeneous collection of storage devices, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server over a network from a client, a request for accessing files stored in a plurality of heterogeneous storage devices hosted by a plurality of storage providers over the network, including a first storage device of a first storage provider and a second storage device of a second storage provider;
accessing, on behalf of a user of the client, the first storage device and the second storage device to retrieve information concerning the files;
transmitting data to the client over the network, the data representing a logical file system view of the files without exposing actual storage locations of the files stored in the first and second storage devices;
in response to a request for storing a new file from the client, selecting, by the server computer system without notification to the client, a storage space associated with a first user account of the first storage device or a second user account of the second storage device based, at least in part, on a combination of: a remaining storage capacity of the first storage device and a remaining storage capacity of the second storage device available to the first user account and the second user account, respectively, a type of the new file, a bandwidth of the first storage provider for the first storage device and a bandwidth of the second storage provider for the second storage device, and storage provider access times associated with each of the first storage device and the second storage device when accessing files of the type of the new file;
storing the file in the selected storage space associated with one of the first and second user accounts;
monitoring operating statistics for the first and second storage devices comprising: monitoring at least storage provider access time and bandwidth provided by the first storage provider for the first storage device and the second storage provider for the second storage device, and client access statistics indicative of a frequency of access by the user to one or more of the files stored in the first and second storage devices; and
migrating at least one file having the type of the new file from the first storage device to the second storage device when: the at least one file is accessed by the user more frequently than at least one other file of a different type on the first storage device, the second storage device stores one or more files of the type of the new file for the client, and the second storage device has at least one of a higher bandwidth and a shorter access time than the first storage device.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first storage device and the second storage device are accessed using first and second credentials that were cached within the server previously, and wherein accessing the first and second storage devices is performed without having to prompt the user for providing the first and second credentials.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising maintaining within the server for the user a file mapping table logically mapping the logical file system view with physical files stored in the first and second storage devices.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
updating the file mapping table within the server based on the storage of the file in the selected storage space.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein providing the mechanism to acquire more storage space comprises arranging the third storage provider for the user to acquire more storage space from a third storage device.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
updating the file mapping table within the server in response to migrating one or more files from the first storage device to the second storage device based at least in part on the monitored operating statistics and the monitored accesses statistics.

7. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for managing content stored in heterogeneous storage devices, the method comprising:
receiving, at a server over a network from a client, a request for accessing files stored in a plurality of heterogeneous storage devices hosted by a plurality of storage providers over the network, including a first storage device of a first storage provider and a second storage device of a second storage provider;
accessing, on behalf of a user of the client, the first storage device and the second storage device to retrieve information concerning the files;
transmitting data to the client over the network, the data representing a logical file system view of the files without exposing actual storage locations of the files stored in the first and second storage devices;
in response to a request for storing a new file from the client, selecting, by the server computer system without notification to the client, a storage space associated with a first user account of the first storage device or a second user account of the second storage device based, at least in part, on a combination of: a remaining storage capacity of the first storage device and a remaining storage capacity of the second storage device available to the first user account and the second user account, respectively, a type of the new file, a bandwidth of the first storage provider for the first storage device and a bandwidth of the second storage provider for the second storage device, and storage provider access times associated with each of the first storage device and the second storage device when accessing files of to the type of the new file;
storing the file in the selected storage space associated with one of the first and second user accounts;
monitoring operating statistics for the first and second storage devices comprising: monitoring at least storage provider access time and bandwidth provided by the first storage provider for the first storage device and the second storage provider for the second storage device, and client access statistics indicative of a frequency of access by the user to one or more of the files stored in the first and second storage devices; and
migrating at least one file having the type of the new file from the first storage device to the second storage device when: the at least one file is accessed by the user more frequently than at least one other file of a different type on the first storage device, the second storage device stores one or more files of the type of the new file for the client, and the second storage device has at least one of a higher bandwidth and a shorter access time than the first storage device.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the first storage device and the second storage device are accessed using first and second credentials that were cached within the server previously, and wherein accessing the first and second storage devices is performed without having to prompt the user for providing the first and second credentials.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein the method further comprises maintaining within the server for the user a file mapping table logically mapping the logical file system view with physical files stored in the first and second storage devices.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the method further comprises:
updating the file mapping table within the server based on the storage of the file in the selected storage space.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7 , wherein providing the mechanism to acquire more storage space comprises arranging the third

Assignees

• Dolce James J
• Bloom Jeffery R
• Fujifilm North America Corp

Inventors

• Dolce James J
• Bloom Jeffery R

Classifications

• G06F16/192

  Implementing virtual folder structures · CPC title

• G06F16/183

  Provision of network file services by network file servers, e.g. by using NFS, CIFS (network file access protocols H04L67/1097) · CPC title

• G06F3/067 Primary

  Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS] · CPC title

• G06F3/0643

  Management of files · CPC title

• G06F3/0605

  by facilitating the interaction with a user or administrator · CPC title