Patent ID: 8806159

Claim:
A data storage resource management method comprising: performing a data update process, including communicating a data update input output packet between a primary storage resource and a secondary storage resource, wherein corresponding data updates in the secondary storage resource are a mirror of data updates in the primary storage resource; and performing a reclamation process, including: reclaiming a storage location at the primary storage resource; generating reclamation information indicating that the storage location has been reclaimed; storing the reclamation information in a buffer at the primary storage resource; generating a reclamation input output packet at the primary storage resource based on the reclamation information stored in the buffer that indicates the storage location that has been reclaimed, the reclamation input output packet being separate from the storage location, the data update input output packet, and the buffer; communicating the reclamation input output packet through the same interface as the data update input output packet, wherein the reclamation input output packet is communicated between the primary storage resource and the secondary storage resource; and reclaiming storage locations on the secondary storage resource in accordance with reclamation information in the reclamation input output packet communicated between the primary storage resource and the secondary storage resource.