Patent · US Expired

Dynamic disk space management by multiple database server instances in a cluster configuration

US7249152B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
6References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2003
Grant dateJul 24, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2024

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99956
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the dynamic management of disk space by multiple database server instances in a cluster configuration is disclosed. A segment is partitioned. Each partition is associated with a bitmap block. A partition's bitmap block indicates the freeness of the partition's data blocks. A partition's bitmap block may be owned by one server instance at a time. After determining from a partition's bitmap block where free disk space is located within the partition, the partition's bitmap block's owner may allocate the free disk space for the owner's use. A bitmap block may become owned by different server instances at different times. When a server instance ceases to actively use its bitmap block, another server instance may “steal” the bitmap block. Thus, multiple server instances may allocate disk space in the same partition over time, preventing disk space waste.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.