METHOD OF MANAGING A DISTRIBUTED STORAGE SYSTEM

摘要

A method of managing a distributed storage system (1) comprising a plurality of storage devices (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) on a network (N), wherein an autonomous function can be assigned to any storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) of the distributed storage system (N), which autonomous function comprises collecting content according to a configurable profile (3) for the storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) to which the autonomous function is assigned, and wherein a first storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) of the distributed storage system (1), before leaving the network (N), delegates the responsibility for an autonomous function of that first storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) to a second storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) of the distributed storage system (1), and wherein the second storage device assumes responsibility for the autonomous function of the first storage device(D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>), and wherein the second storage device transfers data, accumulated due to its responsibility for the autonomous function of the first storage device(D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>), to the first storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) when the first storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) returns to the network (N). The invention also relates to a storage device (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>) for use in a distributed storage system (1), and to a distributed storage system (1) comprising such storage devices (D<SUB>1</SUB>, D<SUB>2</SUB>, ..., D<SUB>n</SUB>).