Method, system and computer program product for managing the storage of data
US8250335B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 2008 |
| Grant date | Aug 21, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 11, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F3/067
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides for a method, system, and computer program product for managing the storage of data. Data is selectively compressed based on a pre-defined compression policy and metadata is stored for physical storage blocks. A stored compression policy identifies at least one criterion for compression, and physical blocks of data meeting the compression policy are identified. A physical block is selected as a source block for data compression, and one or more physical locations are selected as target locations. Data is read from the source block, compressed, and written to the target locations. Metadata is updated to indicate a mapping between the target locations and the virtual blocks previously mapped to the source block. Extra storage capacity can be freed up until more physical storage is ordered and installed, while more important data, such as recently or frequently accessed data, is retained in an uncompressed and accessible state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.