Patent attributes
A distributed storage (DS) processing unit distributes an initial set of encoded data slices and an initial parity slice, for storage in multiple DS units. The initial parity slice is associated with an initial encoded data slice stored in a first DS unit. The DS processing unit transmits an updated encoded data slice reflecting changes to the initial encoded data slice, and obtains, from the first DS unit, delta parity information associated with a delta parity slice. The delta parity slice reflects differences between parity values calculated using the updated data slice and the initial data slice. An updated parity slice is generated by performing an exclusive OR (XOR) operation on the initial parity slice and the delta parity slice. A message transmitted to a second DS unit, which currently stores the initial parity slice, directs the second DS unit to store the updated parity slice.
