Managing storage in processor-based systems

• US 7,035,987 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Rudelic, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): PORTKA, GARY J
• Application Number:
  US10/188,624
• Publication Number:
  US 20040006673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,393 Days
• Field of Search: 711/154, 711/103, 711/118, 711/165, 711/101, 711/170, 257/3
• US Class Current: 711/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/023 Free address space management

Abstract

The same storage may be utilized to store both persistent and dynamic data in a processor-based system. In some embodiments, the storage may be a phase change memory. When data is to be stored, the memory manager determines whether the data is persistent. If the data is persistent it is managed in a fragmented fashion. Non-persistent or dynamic data is managed as a heap.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining whether data to be stored in a non-volatile memory is persistent data;

determining whether to store the data in a heap depending on whether the data to be stored in the non-volatile memory is persistent or non-persistent data; and

if the data to be stored is not persistent data, managing the data as a heap.

2. The method of claim 1 including storing the data in fragmented fashion if the data to be stored is persistent data and managing the data as a heap of the data to be stored is not persistent data.

3. The method of claim 2 including storing the persistent and non-persistent data in the same storage.

4. The method of claim 3 including storing data without using a volatile storage.

5. The method of claim 3 including storing said data on a phase change material memory.

6. The method of claim 1 including storing the data in fragmented fashion if the data to be stored is persistent data and managing the data as a heap of the data to be stored is not persistent data.

7. A processor-based system comprising:

a processor to determine whether to store data in a heap depending on whether the data is persistent or non-persistent;

a non-volatile storage to store both persistent and non-persistent data, and to store non-persistent data in a heap; and

a wireless interface coupled to said processor.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said system does not include a volatile storage.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein said storage is a phase change material storage.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein said storage stores instructions that enable the processor to determine whether data to be stored is persistent data, if the data being stored is persistent data, store the data in fragmented fashion, and if the data to be stored is not persistent data, manage the data as a heap.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein said storage stores an index table, a data queue, and stored persistent and non-persistent data.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said non-persistent data includes run time data.

13. A computer readable medium storing instructions that, if executed, enable a processor-based system to perform the steps of:

determining whether data to be stored in a non-volatile memory is persistent data;

determining whether to store the data in a heap depending on whether the data to be stored in the non-volatile memory is persistent or non-persistent data; and

if the data to be stored is non-persistent data, managing the data as a heap.

14. The medium of claim 13 further storing instructions that, if executed, enable the processor-based system to perform the step of storing the persistent and non-persistent data in the same storage.

15. The medium of claim 14 further storing instructions that, if executed, enable the processor-based system to perform the step of storing data without using a volatile storage.

16. The medium of claim 14 further storing instructions that, if executed, enable the processor-based system to perform the step of storing said data on a phase change material memory.