Regulating data storage based on copy quantity

Abstract

In some examples, a server may receive a data file from one or more computing devices, and may store the data file at a storage system provided by a data storage service. The server may determine a number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system based on a number of a set of computing devices that store the data file. For example, the set of computing devices may be outside of the storage system, and the determined number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system may decrease when the number of the set of computing devices that store the data file increases. Additionally, the server may adjust the number of copies of the data file stored at the storage system based on the determined number of copies of the data file.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A method of regulating a data storage service, the method comprising:
 receiving, at a server, a data file from one or more computing devices;   storing, by the server, the data file at a storage system provided by the data storage service;   determining, by the server, a number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system based on a number of a set of computing devices that store the data file, the set of computing devices being outside of the storage system, wherein the determined number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system decreases when the number of the set of computing devices that store the data file increases; and   adjusting, by the server, the number of copies of the data file stored at the storage system based on the determined number of copies of the data file.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more computing devices are associated with one or more users. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system is determined further based on a number of the one or more users associated with the one or more computing devices that send the data file to the server to be stored at the storage system. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the number of copies of the data file include copies of a portion of the data file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a value of the data file as a function of the number of the set of computing devices that store the data file, wherein the number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system is determined based on the value of the data file. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein adjusting the number of copies of the date file stored at the storage system includes increasing the number of copies of the data file stored at the storage system according to a value range to which the value of the data file corresponds. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein adjusting the number of copies of the data file stored at the storage system includes decreasing the number of copies of the data file stored at the storage system according to a value range to which the value of the data file corresponds. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of the value of the data file comprises determining the value as a function of a latency associated with reading the data file from one or more of the set of computing devices that store the data file. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of the value of the data file comprises determining the value as a function of a network bandwidth available for reading the data file from one or more of the set of computing devices that store the data file. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of the value of the data file comprises determining the value as a function of availability of a network connection with one or more of the set of computing devices that store the data file for reading the data file. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of the value of the data file comprises determining the value as a function of access pattern of the data file for a specific user. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the determining of the value of the data file comprises determining the value as a function of access pattern of the data file for a subset of one or more users associated with the one or more computing devices. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for regulating a data storage service, the apparatus comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 receive a data file from one or more computing devices; 
 store the data file at a storage system provided by the data storage service; 
 determine a number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system based on a number of a set of computing devices that store the data file, the set of computing devices being outside of the storage system, wherein the determined number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system decreases when the number of the set of computing devices that store the data file increases; and 
 adjust the number of copies of the data file stored at the storage system based on the determined number of copies of the data file. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more computing devices are associated with one or more users, wherein the number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system is determined further based on a number of the one or more users associated with the one or more computing devices that send the data file to the apparatus to be stored at the storage system. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a value of the data file as a function of the number of the set of computing devices that store the data file, wherein the number of copies of the data file to be stored at the storage system is determined based on the value of the data file. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, to determine the value of the data file, the at least one processor is configured to determine the value as a function of a latency associated with reading the data file from one or more of the set of computing devices that store the data file. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, to determine the value of the data file, the at least one processor is configured to determine the value as a function of a network bandwidth available for reading the data file from one or more of the set of computing devices that store the data file. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, to determine the value of the data file, the at least one processor is configured to determine the value as a function of availability of a network connection with one or more of the set of computing devices that store the data file for reading the data file. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, to determine the value of the data file, the at least one processor is configured to determine the value as a function of access pattern of the data file for a specific user. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein, to determine the value of the data file, the at least one processor is configured to determine the value as a function of access pattern of the data file for a subset of one or more users associated with the one or more computing devices.