Computer apparatus and method for autonomic adjustment of block transfer size
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
a plurality of memory portions that each have a specified block transfer size independent of block transfer size of other of the plurality of memory portions;
an operating system residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the operating system accessing each of the plurality of memory portions using the corresponding specified block transfer size; and
a dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism that compiles a history of how a selected memory portion is accessed and that dynamically adjusts the block transfer size of the memory portion, as required, according to the compiled history.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism independently defines block transfer size for each memory portion, which may include files in a file system, virtual storage segments in a memory system, or extents in physical storage. By specifying block transfer size for a memory portion independently from other memory portions, the performance of the computer system may be enhanced. In addition, the block transfer size of one or more memory portions may be dynamically adjusted according to how the memory portion is used. In an alternative embodiment, the block transfer size may also be specified for each process that accesses a portion of memory. Thus, a single file may be accessed with a first block transfer size by a first process, and may be accessed with a second (different) block transfer size by a second process. By providing the ability to independently set block transfer size for portions of memory, and to dynamically adjust those values according to the historical use of the portion of memory, the performance of a computer system is enhanced.
41 Citations
25 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
a plurality of memory portions that each have a specified block transfer size independent of block transfer size of other of the plurality of memory portions;
an operating system residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the operating system accessing each of the plurality of memory portions using the corresponding specified block transfer size; and
a dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism that compiles a history of how a selected memory portion is accessed and that dynamically adjusts the block transfer size of the memory portion, as required, according to the compiled history. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor;
a memory coupled to the at least one processor;
a plurality of files that each have a specified block transfer size independent of block transfer size of other of the plurality of files;
an operating system residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the operating system accessing each of the plurality of files using the corresponding specified block transfer size; and
a dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism that compiles a history of how a selected file is accessed and that dynamically adjusts the block transfer size of the file, as required, according to the compiled history. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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8. A computer-implemented method for accessing information in a memory portion, the method comprising the steps of:
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specifying block transfer size for the memory portion independently from block transfer size of other memory portions;
accessing the memory portion using the corresponding specified block transfer size;
compiling a history of how the memory portion is accessed; and
dynamically adjusting the block transfer size of the memory portion, as required, according to the compiled history. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer-implemented method for accessing information in a file, the method comprising the steps of:
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specifying block transfer size for the file independently from block transfer size of other files;
accessing the file using the corresponding specified block transfer size;
compiling a history of how the file is accessed; and
dynamically adjusting the block transfer size of the file, as required, according to the compiled history. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A program product comprising:
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(A) a dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism that compiles a history of how a selected memory portion is accessed and that dynamically adjusts block transfer size of the memory portion, as required, according to the compiled history; and
(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A program product comprising:
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(A) a dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism that compiles a history of how a selected file is accessed and that dynamically adjusts block transfer size of the file, as required, according to the compiled history; and
(B) computer-readable signal bearing media bearing the dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification