Patent · US Active

Allocating background workflows in a data storage system using historical data

US8024542B1 · kind B1 · utility

10Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 11, 2008
Grant dateSep 20, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 4, 2030

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F2206/1012
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Technologies are described for implementing a system that schedules background workflows in a storage system. The background workflows may be automated maintenance tasks that require data movement, or any other tasks that would otherwise compete with normal input/output operations. Historical load statistics can be analyzed to estimate the preferred times in the future during which to schedule background workflows. After collecting data access statistics and usage patterns for several days or weeks, a number of averages can be calculated from the statistics at various natural periods of system utilization. For example, daily, weekly, or other periods. A weighted average can be established where weighting can place more emphasis on recent data. Such averages can serve as predictors of future loads having similar periodic relationships to the historical load data. Predicting future loads can improve the scheduling of background operations by avoiding conflicts with normal system operations.

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