TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to data storage, and in a more particular non-limiting example, to storing data differently based on the content in a data file.

BACKGROUND

Generally, data in a data storage system is stored in an indiscriminate manner, namely, data of different importance to a user is conventionally stored without regard to the importance of the data to user. Such indiscriminate storage of data results in significant frustration and loss to a user when a storage device fails and the user has stored important data files without regard to the reliability of the underlying storage medium.

For example, when a hard disk drive fails, recovery or replacement of data that is readily available such as form documents, published textual materials, and public images or videos is readily performed. However, when a hard disk drive fails that contains highly personal documents, data, or images or videos, recovery or replacement may be impossible since no other copies of these materials may even exist.

Different types of storage exhibit different levels of reliability. For example, solid-state drives utilize no moving parts and are therefore less susceptible to mechanical failure than mechanically rotating hard disk drives. Accordingly, it would be beneficial to store higher-important information in a more reliable storage medium in order to reduce data loss from storage medium failure.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes, among other things, various aspects for storing data, and in a more particular non-limiting example, aspects for storing a data file in different storage medium zones based upon a determined importance of the data file. In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this disclosure may be embodied in a system that includes storage medium including a first data storage zone and a second data storage zone, and a controller. The controller configured to generate a data file importance score based on the data file, store the data file in the first data storage zone in response to the data file importance score being greater than a data file importance threshold, and store the data file in the second data storage zoned in response to the data file importance score being less than the data file importance threshold.

In one implementation, the controller is further configured to generate the data file importance score based at least in part on content in the data file. In yet another implementation, the controller is further configured to identify the keyword in the content of the data file, which may be is indicative of the data file having a greater data file importance score for example, and weight, based on the keyword, the data file importance score for the data file based on the keyword. In some cases, multiple keywords may be identified, and the weighting may be based on the combined effect of those keywords and/or other content or aspects of the data file. In yet another implementation, the first data storage zone in the storage medium is differently configured to have a higher reliability than the second data storage zone storage medium.

Further, the controller is also configured to receive operating characteristics of the storage medium, and determine the first data storage zone and the second data storage zone based on the operating characteristics of the storage medium, wherein the first data storage zone has a higher reliability than the second data storage zone based on the operating characteristics. Yet further, the first data storage zone in the storage medium is a first portion of a solid-state drive, or a first portion of a hard disk drive, the second data storage zone in the storage medium is a second portion of the solid-state drive or a second portion of the hard disk drive, and the first data storage zone has a higher reliability than the second data storage zone.

A further implementation includes the controller further configured to write-protect the data file in the first data storage zone in respect to the data file being determined to have a greater data file importance score. In yet further implementation, the controller is further configured to error correction code (ECC) process the data file before storing the data file in the first data storage zone in the storage medium. Yet further, the system is configured to include one of the first data storage zone and the second data storage zone being in a cloud-based storage zone. Yet further, the controller is further configured to generate the data file importance score based at least in part on metadata in the data file.

Another general aspect includes a computer implemented method comprising generating the data file importance score based on the data file, storing the data file in a first data storage zone of the storage medium in a data storage device in response to the data file importance score being greater than a data file importance threshold, and storing the data file in a second data storage zone of the storage medium in the data storage device in response to the data file importance score being less than the data file importance threshold.

In one implementation, the data file importance score further generated based at least in part on content in the data file. In yet further implementation, the computer implemented method further comprises identifying keyword(s) in the content of the data file that are indicative of the data file having a greater or lesser data file importance score. For instance, the method may identify keywords in the content of the data file and weight, based on the keywords, which may each or collectively be indicative of the data file having a greater or lesser data file importance score, the data file importance score based on the keyword(s).

In further implementations, the computer implemented method comprises differently configuring the first data storage zone in the storage medium to have a higher reliability than the second data storage zone in the storage medium. In yet another implementation, a computer implemented method further comprises configuring a portion of a hard disk drive to form the first data storage zone in the storage medium.

In yet a further implementation, a computer implemented method further comprises redundantly configuring a portion of the solid-state drive to form the first data storage zone in the storage medium. In a further implementation, the computer implemented method further comprises redundantly configuring the portion of the solid-state drive to form the first data storage zone in the storage medium. In a further implementation, the method may differently configure the first data storage zone in the storage medium to have a higher reliability based on error correction coding the data file. Yet in a further implementation, the computer implemented method further comprises write-protecting the data file in the first data storage zone in response to the data file importance score of the data file being greater than the data file importance threshold.

In a further implementation, the computer implemented method further comprises differently configuring the first data storage zone storage medium to have a higher reliability based on the data storage device error correction coding the data file. Yet further, the computer implemented method for generating the data file importance score comprises generating the data file importance score based at least in part on metadata in the data file.

Another general aspect includes a system comprising a means for generating the data file importance score based on the data file, means for storing the data file in a first data storage zone of the storage medium and a data storage device in response to the data file importance score being greater than a data file importance threshold, and means for storing the data file and a second data storage zone the storage medium and the data storage device in response to the data file importance score being less than a data file importance threshold.

The various embodiments include operations to overcome or at least reduce the issues in the previous storage networks and/or systems discussed above and, accordingly, are more reliable and/or efficient than other storage systems. That is, the various embodiments disclosed herein include hardware and/or software with functionality to improve the cost-effective placement of data files in an appropriate storage based on the content of the data file. Accordingly, the embodiments disclosed herein provide various improvements to storage networks and/or storage systems.

It should be understood that the language used in the present disclosure has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.

