Patent · US Active

Methods for managing data movement and destaging data in a multi-level cache system utilizing threshold values and metadata

US8924646B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by
5References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 7, 2010
Grant dateDec 30, 2014
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 22, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F12/0897
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method for managing data movement in a multi-level cache system includes selecting at least one outgoing data block from a primary cache when an unallocated space of the primary cache has reached a minimum threshold, initiating a de-stage process for de-staging the outgoing data block, and terminating the de-stage process when the unallocated space has reached an upper threshold. The de-stage process includes storing the outgoing data block in a secondary cache when a cache hit has occurred before. The cache hit may be an actual cache hit or a “ghost” cache hit wherein only metadata is stored in the secondary cache. A method for de-staging an outgoing data block from a higher level cache which includes storing an outgoing data block in a lower level cache when a cache hit rate satisfies a predetermined condition and storing metadata in the lower level cache is also disclosed.

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