Abstract: An access server generates a handshake with storage servers resulting in more rapid access to the stored data, for example, video data, by a user. The handshake also results in load balancing effects.

Abstract: The present invention introduces the notions of a rendezvous component and rendezvous functionality into the communications network environment. Using the invention, an application can express information regarding when an operation requested of a device should complete and at which location, and it enables the device to perform its operations respecting this information while also improving the device's overall behavior. In an embodiment, one or more data objects are distributed across one or more collections of storage devices using a dispersal technique. When access to a data object is desired, a rendezvous component issues a set of constituent requests to the collections of storage devices. These requests typically include location and timing rendezvous parameters specifying a destination location where and a given time when a given data object is to be reconstituted.

Abstract: In one aspect, a computer-implemented method includes generating a workload using at least one schema defined by combinations of ranges of each of at least two attributes. The computer-implemented method also includes receiving a request to provide content. The computer-implemented method further includes provisioning the content based upon the workload.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes receiving a description of a pattern of access to a first group of items of content; and partitioning a storage space based at least in part on the description of the pattern of access. The description of the pattern of access is a function of at least a first attribute that characterizes one or more operational objectives of a second group of items of content to be stored in a storage system. The partitioning the storage space includes defining each one of a plurality of categories in relation to a range of values of the first attribute; and associating each one of the plurality of categories with a respective one of a plurality of resource allocation arrangements.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus including computer program products to receive a data transfer request that includes a specification of an access operation to be executed in association with one or more network-based storage resource elements, the specification including respective persistent fully-resolvable identifiers for the one or more network-based storage resource elements, and process the access operation in accordance with its specification to effect a data transfer between nodes on a data network.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes detecting an actual workload representative of a pattern of access of a plurality of items of content; comparing the actual workload against a prescriptive workload to determine an occurrence of a substantial deviation from the prescriptive workload; and upon determining the occurrence of the substantial deviation, revising the prescriptive workload based at least in part on the actual workload. The plurality of items is stored on resources of a storage environment according to one of a plurality of resource allocation arrangements. The prescriptive workload including a plurality of categories, each category being associated with a respective one of the plurality of resource allocation arrangements.

Abstract: A distributed system for content storage and access includes a storage platform having at least a first storage component, and an access platform having one or multiple access components. Each access component is associated with at least one access service. The access service may be an administrative service for receiving a service request initiated by a first user, the service request being associated with a first item of content, and for identifying a characteristic of the service request, a content management service for determining, based at least in part on the characteristic of the service request, a specification of a data transfer operation to be executed in association with the first storage component, and a directory service for maintaining information associated with the first item of content.

Abstract: A storage server in a distributed content storage and access system provides a mechanism for dynamically establishing storage resources, such as buffers, with specified semantic models. For example, the semantic models support distributed control of single buffering and double buffering during a content transfer that makes use of the buffer for intermediate storage. In some examples, a method includes examining characteristics associated with a desired transfer of data, such as a unit of content, and then selecting characteristics of a first storage resource based on results of the examining. The desired transfer of the data is then affected to use the first storage resource element.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes obtaining information characterizing a level of actual usage of a first item of content; based on the obtained information, determining whether a re-provisioning condition is satisfied and if so, generating a specification of a re-provisioning operation to be executed in association with the resources of a storage environment; and executing the re-provisioning operation. The first item of content is stored on a first set of elements of resources of the storage environment according to a first resource allocation arrangement. The re-provisioning operation includes identifying a second resource allocation arrangement for storing the first item of content; and allocating a second set of elements of the resources of the storage environment according to the second resource allocation arrangement.

Abstract: A system having components that collectively perform functions and services of the system. The components are managed as belonging to at least a first component collection and a second component collection. The components of the first component collection operate at a time scale that is substantially temporally independent of the components of the second component collection. The components of the first component collection have a first set of temporal requirements and the components of the second component collection have a second substantially different set of temporal requirements.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer program products for receiving a request for access to a first item of content stored on resources of a storage environment, the request for access being initiated by a first user, identifying an existing resource allocation arrangement associating elements of the first item of content with respective elements of the resources of the storage environment, performing an inquiry to determine whether an admission condition is satisfied, and upon satisfaction of the admission condition, generating a specification of an access operation, the access operation configured to enable a selected set of elements among the respective elements of the resources of the storage environment to be accessed.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer program products for receiving a content transfer request that includes a first set of provisioning attributes that characterizes one or more operational objectives of a first item of content; and processing the content transfer request to allocate resources of a storage environment to store the first item of content.