Method and apparatus for calculating disk-access footprints for use in selecting a storage management method
US5142670A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 26, 1988 |
| Grant date | Aug 25, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 26, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99953
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mechanism within a disk controller that computes the number of units of storage space accessed as a function of either real or virtual time. A counter is set to a reference count. Each unit of storage space has a predetermined bit set to a predetermined state indicative that the unit of storage space has not been accessed. The unit of storage space is accessed, and if the predetermined bit is in the predetermined state, the state is changed to indicate access. The counter is incremented in response to the change of state of the predetermined bit, with the count being indicative of the number of units of storage space accessed. This so-called "footprint" function can be used by the disk controller as input for an algorithm that attempts to optimize cache performance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.