Storage management system with file aggregation supporting multiple aggregated file counterparts

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, the source and target storage areas having no storage space in common.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, the source and target storage areas substantially overlapping.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1, where: the method further comprises maintaining a managed file attributes table including a representation of each managed file along with the managed file's occupied space and active space, said active space being the occupied space reduced by any deleted-file space; and the searching of the mapping table for a paradigm managed file having contents substantially identical to the reconstructed first managed file comprises: searching the mapping table for a paradigm managed file with (1) same constituent user files as the reconstructed managed file, and (2) no deleted-file space.

Claim 8

The method of claim 5, the predetermined position being a first-ordered position among user files in the first managed file.

Claim 9

The method of claim 5, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file in response to manual designation by a user.

Claim 10

The method of claim 5, the predetermined criteria selecting a non-busy identified managed file.

Claim 11

The method of claim 5, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file according to read access speeds of storage devices accessing the managed files in the subsystem.

Claim 16

The method of claim 11, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file in response to manual designation by a user.

Claim 17

The method of claim 11, the predetermined criteria selecting a non-busy identified managed file.

Claim 18

The method of claim 11, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file according to read access speeds of storage devices accessing the managed files in the subsystem.

Claim 19

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for reconstructing a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, said deleted-file space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing at a source storage area, the managed file and all constituent user files being represented in (1) a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, and (2) a storage table cross-referencing each managed file with an address in the subsystem containing that managed file, the method comprising: receiving a request to reconstruct a first managed file having an original filename; reconstructing the first managed file by identifying contiguous regions of user files within the first managed file and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area; searching the mapping table for a paradigm managed file having contents identical to the reconstructed first managed file; if the paradigm managed file is found, the paradigm managed file having a paradigm filename, deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the paradigm filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; if the paradigm managed file is not found, designating a sibling filename for the reconstructed first managed file; in the mapping table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with all constituent user files and corresponding locations of those user files within the reconstructed first managed file; deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; and searching the storage table for the original filename, and if not found, updating the mapping table by deleting reference to the original filename and all data cross-referenced thereto.

Claim 20

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for reconstructing a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, said deleted-file space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing at a source storage area, the managed file and all constituent user files being represented in (1) a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, and (2) a storage table cross-referencing each managed file with an address in the subsystem containing that managed file, the method comprising: receiving a request to reconstruct a first managed file having an original filename; reconstructing the first managed file by identifying contiguous regions of user files within the first managed file and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area; searching the mapping table for a paradigm managed file having contents identical to the reconstructed first managed file; if the paradigm managed file is found, the paradigm managed file having a paradigm filename, deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the paradigm filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; if the paradigm managed file is not found, designating a sibling filename for the reconstructed first managed file; in the mapping table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with all constituent user files and corresponding locations of those user files within the reconstructed first managed file; deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; and searching the storage table for the original filename, and if not found, updating the mapping table by deleting reference to the original filename and all data cross-referenced thereto.

Claim 21

The medium of claim 15, the source and target storage areas having no storage space in common.

Claim 22

The medium of claim 15, the source and target storage areas substantially overlapping.

Claim 23

The medium of claim 15, where: the method further comprises maintaining a managed file attributes table including a representation of each managed file along with the managed file's occupied space and active space, said active space being the occupied space reduced by any deleted-file space; and the searching of the mapping table for a paradigm managed file having contents substantially identical to the reconstructed first managed file comprises: searching the mapping table for a paradigm managed file with (1) same constituent user files as the reconstructed managed file, and (2) no deleted-file space.

Claim 24

A signal-bearing medium of processing requests to access a storage subsystem that maintains managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, each managed file and all constituent user files therein being represented in a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, the method comprising: receiving a request to restore a first managed file to the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify a user file occupying a predetermined position in the first managed file; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the identified user file; if one or more managed files other than the first managed file are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and restoring the first managed file from the selected managed file.

Claim 25

A signal-bearing medium of processing requests to access a storage subsystem that maintains managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, each managed file and all constituent user files therein being represented in a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, the method comprising: receiving a request to restore a first managed file to the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify a user file occupying a predetermined position in the first managed file; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the identified user file; if one or more managed files other than the first managed file are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and restoring the first managed file from the selected managed file.

Claim 26

The medium of claim 19, the predetermined position being a first-ordered position among user files in the first managed file.

Claim 27

The medium of claim 19, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file in response to manual designation by a user.

Claim 28

The medium of claim 19, the predetermined criteria selecting a non-busy identified managed file.

Claim 29

The medium of claim 19, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file according to read access speeds of storage devices accessing the managed files in the subsystem.

Claim 30

A signal-bearing medium of processing requests to access a storage subsystem that maintains managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, each managed file and all constituent user files therein being represented in a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, the method comprising: receiving a request to delete a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, updating the mapping table by deleting each entry referencing the first user file.

Claim 31

A signal-bearing medium of processing requests to access a storage subsystem that maintains managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, each managed file and all constituent user files therein being represented in a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, the method comprising: receiving a request to delete a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, updating the mapping table by deleting each entry referencing the first user file.

Claim 32

A signal-bearing medium of processing requests to access a storage subsystem that maintains managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, each managed file and all constituent user files therein being represented in a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, and the method comprising: receiving a request to retrieve a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and providing an output of the first user file from the selected managed file.

Claim 33

A signal-bearing medium of processing requests to access a storage subsystem that maintains managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, each managed file and all constituent user files therein being represented in a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file, and the method comprising: receiving a request to retrieve a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and providing an output of the first user file from the selected managed file.

Claim 34

The medium of claim 25, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file in response to manual designation by a user.

Claim 35

The medium of claim 25, the predetermined criteria selecting a non-busy identified managed file.

Claim 36

The medium of claim 25, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file according to read access speeds of storage devices accessing the managed files in the subsystem.

Claim 37

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said source storage area containing one or more managed files each including one or an aggregation of multiple constituent user files; a database, including (1) a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with each constituent user file and a corresponding location of that user file within the managed file, and (2) a storage table cross-referencing each managed file with an address in the subsystem containing that managed file; and a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for reconstructing a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, said managed file containing deleted-file space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing in the source storage area, the method comprising: receiving a request to reconstruct a first managed file having an original filename; reconstructing the first managed file by identifying contiguous regions of user files within the first managed file and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area; searching the mapping table for a paradigm managed file having contents identical to the reconstructed first managed file; if the paradigm managed file is found, the paradigm managed file having a paradigm filename, deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the paradigm filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; if the paradigm managed file is not found, designating a sibling filename for the reconstructed first managed file; in the mapping table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with all constituent user files and corresponding locations of those user files within the reconstructed first managed file; deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; and searching the storage table for the original filename, and if not found, updating the mapping table by deleting reference to the original filename and all data cross-referenced thereto.

Claim 38

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said source storage area containing one or more managed files each including one or an aggregation of multiple constituent user files; a database, including (1) a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with each constituent user file and a corresponding location of that user file within the managed file, and (2) a storage table cross-referencing each managed file with an address in the subsystem containing that managed file; and a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for reconstructing a managed file originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files, said managed file containing deleted-file space arising from deletion of individual user files from the managed file, said managed file residing in the source storage area, the method comprising: receiving a request to reconstruct a first managed file having an original filename; reconstructing the first managed file by identifying contiguous regions of user files within the first managed file and copying each identified contiguous region to adjacent locations in a target storage area; searching the mapping table for a paradigm managed file having contents identical to the reconstructed first managed file; if the paradigm managed file is found, the paradigm managed file having a paradigm filename, deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the paradigm filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; if the paradigm managed file is not found, designating a sibling filename for the reconstructed first managed file; in the mapping table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with all constituent user files and corresponding locations of those user files within the reconstructed first managed file; deleting reference in the storage table to the original filename; and in the storage table, adding a new entry cross-referencing the sibling filename with an address in the subsystem containing the reconstructed managed file; and searching the storage table for the original filename, and if not found, updating the mapping table by deleting reference to the original filename and all data cross-referenced thereto.

Claim 39

The subsystem of claim 29, the source and target storage areas having no storage space in common.

Claim 40

The subsystem of claim 29, the source and target storage areas substantially overlapping.

Claim 41

The subsystem of claim 29, where: the method further comprises maintaining a managed file attributes table including a representation of each managed file along with the managed file's occupied space and active space, said active space being the occupied space reduced by any deleted-file space; and the searching of the mapping table for a paradigm managed file having contents substantially identical to the reconstructed first managed file comprises: searching the mapping table for a paradigm managed file with (1) same constituent user files as the reconstructed managed file, and (2) no deleted-file space.

Claim 42

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said storage containing one or more managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files; a database, including a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file; a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for processing requests to access data in the storage, the method comprising: receiving a request to restore a first managed file to the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify a user file occupying a predetermined position in the first managed file; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the identified user file; if one or more managed files other than the first managed file are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and restoring the first managed file from the selected managed file.

Claim 43

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said storage containing one or more managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files; a database, including a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file; a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for processing requests to access data in the storage, the method comprising: receiving a request to restore a first managed file to the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify a user file occupying a predetermined position in the first managed file; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the identified user file; if one or more managed files other than the first managed file are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and restoring the first managed file from the selected managed file.

Claim 44

The subsystem of claim 33, the predetermined position being a first-ordered position among user files in the first managed file.

Claim 45

The subsystem of claim 33, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file in response to manual designation by a user.

Claim 46

The subsystem of claim 33, the predetermined criteria selecting a non-busy identified managed file.

Claim 47

The subsystem of claim 33, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file according to read access speeds of storage devices accessing the managed files in the subsystem.

Claim 48

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said storage containing one or more managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files; a database, including a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file; a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for processing requests to access data in the storage, the method comprising: receiving a request to delete a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, updating the mapping table by deleting each entry referencing the first user file.

Claim 49

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said storage containing one or more managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files; a database, including a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file; a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for processing requests to access data in the storage, the method comprising: receiving a request to delete a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, updating the mapping table by deleting each entry referencing the first user file.

Claim 50

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said storage containing one or more managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files; a database, including a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file; a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for processing requests to access data in the storage, the method comprising: receiving a request to retrieve a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and providing an output of the first user file from the selected managed file.

Claim 51

A data storage subsystem, comprising: a storage including a source storage area and a target storage area, said storage containing one or more managed files each originally created with a contiguous aggregation of constituent user files; a database, including a mapping table cross-referencing each managed file with its constituent user files and a corresponding location of each user file within the managed file; a digital data processing apparatus coupled to the storage and the database; wherein the digital data processing apparatus is programmed to perform a method for processing requests to access data in the storage, the method comprising: receiving a request to retrieve a first user file from the storage subsystem; utilizing the mapping table to identify all managed files containing the first user file; and if one or more managed files are identified, using predetermined criteria to select one of the identified managed files and providing an output of the first user file from the selected managed file.

Claim 52

The subsystem of claim 39, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file in response to manual designation by a user.

Claim 53

The subsystem of claim 39, the predetermined criteria selecting a non-busy identified managed file.

Claim 54

The subsystem of claim 39, the predetermined criteria selecting an identified managed file according to read access speeds of storage devices accessing the managed files in the subsystem.