Preloading data in a cache memory according to user-specified preload criteria
US6463509B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 8, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F2212/6028
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus and method for caching data in a storage device of a computer system. A relatively high-speed, intermediate-volume storage device is operated as a user-configurable cache. Requests to access a mass storage device such as a disk or tape are intercepted by a device driver that compares the access request against a directory of the contents of the user-configurable cache. If the user-configurable cache contains the data sought to be accessed, the access request is carried out in the user-configurable cache instead of being forwarded to the device driver for the target mass storage device. Because the user-cache is implemented using memory having a dramatically shorter access time than most mechanical mass storage devices, the access request is fulfilled much more quickly than if the originally intended mass storage device was accessed. Data is preloaded and responsively cached in the user-configurable cache memory based on user preferences.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.