Patent ID: 8572034

Claim:
A method of managing a distributed storage system comprising a plurality of storage devices (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) on a network (N), the method comprising: assigning an autonomous function to any storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) of the distributed storage system, wherein each respective storage device possesses intelligence of its own for execution of a corresponding autonomous function, wherein the autonomous function comprises collecting and providing content according to a configurable profile for the respective storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) to which the autonomous function is assigned; delegating responsibility for the autonomous function of a first storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) of the distributed storage system, before the first storage device (a)(i) leaves the network (N), (a)(ii) becomes absent from the network, and (a)(iii) is unable to carry out its autonomous function, to a second storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) of the distributed storage system, wherein delegating comprises supplying to the second storage device, via the configurable profile, information about content already collected by the first storage device; assuming responsibility for the autonomous function of the first storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) by the second storage device when the first storage device leaves the network, wherein assuming responsibility comprises (b) determining (b)(i) which content to collect and (b)(ii) which content not to collect because corresponding content is already stored on the first storage device, and (c) only collecting new content not already stored on the first storage device; and transferring data from the second storage device, corresponding to data accumulated by the second storage device due to the second storage device's responsibility for the autonomous function of the first storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ), to the first storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) when the first storage device (D 1 , D 2 , . . . , D n ) returns to the network (N).