NFTDrive and WISERA Jointly Apply for Patent on ‘NAS-X’ Distributed Storage NAS Technology
NFTDrive Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kyoto, Japan; Representative Director: Rion Nakajima) and WISERA Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; Representative Director: Wataru Kishimoto) announced today that they have jointly filed a patent application for new technology related to “NAS-X,” a distributed storage-compatible NAS technology.
NAS-X is a collective term for distributed storage-compatible NAS technology where multiple Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices, which are data storage devices connected to a network for shared access, mutually utilize users’ free storage capacity to perform distributed data backups. The goal is to achieve a new storage architecture with enhanced fault tolerance and permanence, independent of specific management servers or single cloud providers.
Background: Rising Data Loss Risks and Concerns with Centralized Storage
The volume of data handled by individuals and businesses, including photos, videos, and business data, is increasing annually. Concurrently, structural risks related to data preservation have become apparent, such as:
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Data loss due to NAS device failure or disaster.
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Service termination risks due to dependency on cloud providers.
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Cyberattack damage, including ransomware.
While RAID configurations for redundancy and cloud backups offer some effectiveness, they face challenges in being vulnerable to failures at the “enclosure unit” or “provider unit” level.
In response to these concerns, NFTDrive and WISERA developed the distributed storage-compatible NAS technology “NAS-X” and proceeded with the patent application. This technology aims to create a system where users mutually support each other in protecting data, without relying on a specific central authority.
Overview of NAS-X Technology
NAS-X leverages IPFS (InterPlanetary File System), a distributed file system that assigns and manages unique identifiers (CIDs) based on the content of the data itself, rather than its storage location (URL). This allows data to be shared and retrieved independently of specific servers. In NAS-X, each user’s NAS participates in a P2P network, creating a distributed storage environment with the following characteristics:
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Mutual Backup Among Users: Free capacity of each NAS is utilized to store data in a one-to-many (1:n) configuration, creating a backup environment without a single point of failure.
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High Confidentiality Through Data Encryption: Data saved on another user’s NAS is encrypted, ensuring that third parties, including the recipient user, cannot view its contents.
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Independence from Central Management Servers: Backup processes occur directly between NAS devices, without relying on a specific management server. This mitigates risks such as service termination or regional outages.
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Management and Restoration via Content Identifiers: Managing data based on its “content” rather than its “storage location” enables flexible and advanced restoration.
Through these mechanisms, NAS-X aims to build a distributed storage infrastructure for long-term and perpetual data preservation.
Verification Status
Test trials and verification for NAS-X have already been conducted, confirming that distributed backup and restoration operations function normally. Moving forward, gradual implementation into products and optimization for various applications are planned.
Future Developments
NAS-X is expected to be utilized as a core technology for:
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NFTDrive’s initiatives in distributed storage and Web3-related technologies.
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WISERA’s platform for family and personal memory preservation and data inheritance.
In the future, the technology is envisioned to expand beyond personal use to data preservation applications for corporations, local governments, and communities, with potential partnerships also under consideration.
Company Overviews
NFTDrive Co., Ltd.
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Location: Kyoto, Japan
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Representative: Rion Nakajima, Representative Director
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Business Activities: Research and development of distributed storage technology and Web3-related systems
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Official Website: https://nftdrive.net
WISERA Co., Ltd.
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Location: Tokyo, Japan
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Representative: Wataru Kishimoto, Representative Director and CEO
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Business Activities: Planning and development of platforms for family and personal data preservation/memory storage
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Official Website: https://www.wisera.link
