Storage Network with Time-Based Storage Access

1 . A method for use in a storage network, the method comprising:

receiving, by a storage unit of the storage network, an access request from a user device of a first group of user devices, the storage unit having an access policy that designates, for the first group of user devices, a first read time window for reading data from the storage unit and a first write time window for writing data to the storage unit;

determining, by the storage unit, whether the access request is received within the first read time window when the access request is a read request or whether the access request is received within the first write time window when the access request is a write request;

when the access request is the read request and is received within the first read time window, generating, by the storage unit, a read response that includes one or more requested encoded data slices; and

when the access request is the write request and is received within the first write time window, processing, by the storage unit, the write request to store one or more new encoded data slices.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the access policy to the first group of user devices.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the access policy to the storage unit of the storage network.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

providing the access policy to other storage units of the storage network.

5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

establishing the access policy.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein establishing the access policy comprises:

designating a read-write time window for a user device of the first group of user devices, wherein the read-write time window allows for reading of data from the storage unit and writing of data to the storage unit, wherein the read-write time window at least partially overlaps, in time, one or more of the first read time window and the first write time window.

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein establishing the access policy comprises:

designating, for a second group of user devices, a second read time window for reading data from the other storage units and a second write time window for writing data to the other storage units.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the first group of user devices is affiliated with a first vault that is supported by the storage unit and wherein the second group of user devices is affiliated with a second vault that is supported by at least one of the other storage units.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating the access policy based on a current level of utilization of the storage unit.

10 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

updating the access policy to render a particular data object unavailable to the first group of user devices.

11 . A processing system of a storage network comprises:

at least one memory that stores operational instructions; and

at least one processor that, in response to executing the operational instructions, performs operations that include:

receiving, by a storage unit of the storage network, an access request from a user device of a first group of user devices, the storage unit having an access policy that designates, for the first group of user devices, a first read time window for reading data from the storage unit and a first write time window for writing data to the storage unit;

determining, by the storage unit, whether the access request is received within the first read time window when the access request is a read request or whether the access request is received within the first write time window when the access request is a write request;

when the access request is the read request and is received within the first read time window, generating, by the storage unit, a read response that includes one or more requested encoded data slices; and

when the access request is the write request and is received within the first write time window, processing, by the storage unit, the write request to store one or more new encoded data slices.

12 . The processing system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further include:

providing the access policy to the first group of user devices.

13 . The processing system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further include:

providing the access policy to the storage unit of the storage network.

14 . The processing system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further include:

providing the access policy to other storage units of the storage network.

15 . The processing system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further include:

establishing the access policy.

16 . The processing system of claim 15 , wherein establishing the access policy comprises:

designating a read-write time window for a user device of the first group of user devices, wherein the read-write time window allows for reading of data from the storage unit and writing of data to the storage unit, wherein the read-write time window at least partially overlaps, in time, one or more of the first read time window and the first write time window.

17 . The processing system of claim 15 , wherein establishing the access policy comprises:

designating, for a second group of user devices, a second read time window for reading data from the other storage units and a second write time window for writing data to the other storage units.

18 . The processing system of claim 17 , wherein the first group of user devices is affiliated with a first vault that is supported by the storage unit and wherein the second group of user devices is affiliated with a second vault that is supported by at least one of the other storage units.

19 . The processing system of claim 12 , wherein the operations further include:

updating the access policy based on a current level of utilization of the storage unit.

20 . The processing system of claim 11 , wherein the operations further include:

updating the access policy to render a particular data object unavailable to the first group of user devices.