Method and apparatus for predictive loading of a cache
US6003115A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 29, 1997 |
| Grant date | Dec 14, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 29, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/6024
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An improved method for loading a cache is described. The present invention monitors memory access to identify specific types of memory access, for example, requests to launch executable program code stored in a hard disk drive. The method maps the stored program code into a plurality of memory blocks. The memory block access during the launching of the executable program code is then profiled. When the computer remains idle for a predetermined time the profiling process is stopped. Alternatively, if the computer does not remain idle, for the predetermined time, the profiling process is stopped after a timeout period. The profile is then evaluated to identify the most frequently accessed memory blocks. A list of the most frequently accessed memory blocks is stored. The number of memory blocks stored in the list depends upon the size of the cache. The file access system is monitored to identify the next time that a profiled memory access process is initiated. When a profiled process is initiated, the list of the most frequently accessed memory blocks for that process is retrieved. These memory blocks are then pre-loaded into the software disk cache. Pre-loading the memory blocks into…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.