Patent ID: 8275957

Claim:
A method of storing data in a storage system, comprising: optimizing a value of data stored in the storage system, the storage system comprising a plurality of data vats, said optimizing a value comprises: estimating a rate and a value function of data object production during a projected interval of time; and computing and implementing an optimal decision for allocating new data to a first data vat of the plurality of data vats, moving existing data from at least a second data vat to the first data vat, and deleting existing data from the first data vat, based on an amount of data in each of the plurality of data vats, wherein an amount of new data and existing data allocated to the first data vat equals an amount of existing data deleted from the first data vat, and wherein said allocating new data, said moving existing data, and said deleting existing data is based on said optimizing and a plurality of constraints describing a maximum amount of allowed movement.