Patent · US Active

Proactive space allocation in a database system

US7716177B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
2References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 24, 2007
Grant dateMay 11, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 20, 2028

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F16/284
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and apparatus for proactively allocating space to a logical layer of a database is provided. Allocation of space to a logical layer of a database is an expensive operation that should be minimized. The allocation of space includes discovering free space in all the higher layers in the logical storage hierarchy. It also includes cross-domain system calls and cleansing disk-write operations. In prior approaches, the allocation processes were triggered on-demand, only a certain logical layer was discovered to be at full capacity when an insert-row operation was attempted. In one embodiment of the invention, space needs are statistically predicted based on prior rates of space consumption. The database server pre-allocates space as needed, based on the statistical predictions. Rates of consumption are examined periodically. Space is pre-allocated before any logical layer reaches full capacity by a combination of proactive background processes; foreground-triggered, background processes; and classic foreground allocation.

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