Patent ID: 8688908

Claim:
A storage system, the system comprising: a plurality of physical storage devices constituting a physical storage space controlled by a plurality of storage control devices constituting a storage control layer, said storage control layer operatively coupled to the plurality of physical storage devices, wherein the storage control layer being operable to analyze a data portion and to identify zero and non-zero data units within the data portion, and in case of identifying that the data portion comprises a combination of at least one zero data unit and at least one non-zero data unit, wherein the combination meets one or more predetermined criteria, said control layer is further operable to perform at least the following: re-allocate only the at least one non-zero data unit to a physical address within a designated area in the physical storage space that is designated for storing non-zero data units originating from different data portions, and associate the physical address with a logical address of the at least one non-zero data unit and with a logical address of the data portion; and in case said data portion is allocated in said physical storage space, free space initially allocated to said data portion.