Patent ID: 9218406
Filing Date: 2015-12-22
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a server, coupled to a database system and to a wide area network, to manage user data in a plurality of storage appliances coupled to a wide area network, the method comprising: establishing in the database system, via the server, information for each registered user including (1) a user account, (2) a set of registered storage appliances, and (3) a set of container designations for storage of the user data, wherein each container designation is associated with a registered storage appliance; establishing and storing in the database system a set of relationships that are based on designations by the users, each relationship corresponding to sharing privileges that have been granted to one of the registered storage appliances for a container designation associated with another of the registered storage appliances; and using a central service running on the server, coupled to the database system, to deliver relationship data, based on the set of relationships, to the storage appliances so as to (1) enable the appliances to substantiate the containers therein, and (2) replicate user data in container designations among storage appliances, on a peer-to-peer basis, in a manner consistent with the set of relationships, and wherein the central service operates without interaction with user data stored in the containers.