Assigning data for storage based on speed with which data may be retrieved

• US 8,892,611 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GQRC Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Condusiv Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Staffer, Andrew, Kleinschmidt, Jr., Robert Stevens, Khalsa, Sopurkh, Quan, Gary, Jensen, Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): THAI, HANH B
• Application Number:
  US12/971,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20110087657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 707821-823, 713/165, 713/187, 713/193, 713/324, 726/26, 726/27, 726/30
• US Class Current: 707/821
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24578 using ranking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0613 in relation to throughput
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0643 Management of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0644 Management of space entities, e.g. partitions, extents, pools
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/067 Distributed or networked storage systems, e.g. storage area networks [SAN], network attached storage [NAS]

Abstract

A method, system, and apparatus for improving performance when retrieving data from one or more storage media. Files to be stored on the one or more storage media are classified into a ranking of different sets. Differences in retrieval value of different regions of the one or more storage media are exploited by selecting which files to store in which regions. For example, files that have a higher classification are stored in regions with faster retrieval values. The files can be classified based on frequency of access. Thus, files that are more frequently accessed are stored in regions that have a faster retrieval value. The files can be classified by another measure such as priority. For example, the classification for some or all of the files can be based on user-assigned priority. The classification may be based on events or data grouping.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

during and in response to a shutdown procedure of a computer system;

storing, at a first memory location, data that is (a) stored at a second memory location and (b) to be used during a next boot up procedure of the computer system;

wherein the first memory location is faster than the second memory location;

wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are non-volatile memory locations; and

during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, accessing the data stored at the first memory location.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of storing the data at the first memory location is performed in response to receiving a command for executing the shutdown procedure of the computer system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to accessing the data stored at the first memory location during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, over-writing the data stored at the first memory location.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

subsequent to accessing the data stored at the first memory location during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, moving the data stored at the first memory location to another memory location different than the first memory location.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the first memory location is located on a solid state drive.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein storing the data at the first memory location comprises transferring the data from the second memory location to the first memory location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are the same type of medium.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are on the same medium.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first memory location is selected for storing the data based on a determination that the first memory location is faster than the second memory location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is executable code used during the next boot up procedure.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the executable code is loaded, from the first memory location, into volatile memory for execution during the next boot up procedure.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, wherein the step of storing the data at the first memory location is performed in response to receiving a command for executing the shutdown procedure of the computer system.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, further comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:

subsequent to accessing the data stored at the first memory location during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, over-writing the data stored at the first memory location.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, further comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:

subsequent to accessing the data stored at the first memory location during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, moving the data stored at the first memory location to another memory location different than the first memory location.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, wherein the first memory location is located on a solid state drive.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, wherein storing the data at the first memory location comprises transferring the data from the second memory location to the first memory location.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are the same type of medium.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 23, wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are on the same medium.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, wherein the first memory location is selected for storing the data based on having been determined to be faster than the second memory location.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 7, wherein the data is executable code used during the next boot up procedure.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 26, wherein the executable code is loaded, from the first memory location, into volatile memory for execution during the next boot up procedure.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 18, wherein the data includes an executable program.

12. A method comprising:

assigning a classification to data based on a type of event that involves the data;

prior to occurrence of an event of said type, preparing for the occurrence of the event by;

based on the classification, storing, at a first memory location, the data that is (a) currently stored at a second memory location and (b) to be used during the event;

wherein the first memory location is faster than the second memory location;

wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are non-volatile memory locations; and

performing the event at least in part by accessing the data stored at the first memory location;

wherein the method is performed by a computer system.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the event comprises execution of a program and wherein the data comprises at least a portion of a file used by the program.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of storing the data at the first memory location is performed responsive to determining that the event occurs frequently.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the data includes an executable program.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first memory location is selected for storing the data based on a determination that the first memory location is faster than the second memory location.

17. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:

during and in response to a shutdown procedure of a computer system;

storing, at a first memory location, data that is (a) stored at a second memory location and (b) to be used during a next boot up procedure of the computer system;

wherein the first memory location is faster than the second memory location;

wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are non-volatile memory locations; and

during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, accessing the data stored at the first memory location.

28. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors cause performance of:

assigning a classification to data based on a type of event that involves the data;

prior to occurrence of an event, preparing for the occurrence of the event by;

based on the classification, storing, at a first memory location, the data that is (a) currently stored at a second memory location and (b) to be used during the event;

wherein the first memory location is faster than the second memory location;

wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are non-volatile memory locations; and

performing the event at least in part by accessing the data stored at the first memory location.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the event comprises execution of a program and wherein the data comprises at least a portion of a file used by the program.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the step of storing the data at the first memory location is performed responsive to determining that the event occurs frequently.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium as recited in claim 28, wherein the first memory location is selected for storing the data based on a determination that the first memory location is faster than the second memory location.

33. The computer system as recited in claim 32, wherein the executable code is loaded, from the first memory location, into volatile memory for execution during the next boot up procedure.

34. A computer system configured for:

during and in response to a shutdown procedure of the computer system;

storing, at a first memory location, data that is (a) stored at a second memory location and (b) to be used during a next boot up procedure of the computer system;

wherein the first memory location is faster than the second memory location;

wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are non-volatile memory locations; and

during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, accessing the data stored at the first memory location.

35. The computer system as recited in claim 34, wherein the step of storing the data at the first memory location is performed in response to receiving a command for executing the shutdown procedure of the computer system.

36. The computer system as recited in claim 34, further configured for:

subsequent to accessing the data stored at the first memory location during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, over-writing the data stored at the first memory location.

37. The computer system as recited in claim 34, further configured for:

subsequent to accessing the data stored at the first memory location during the next boot up procedure of the computer system, moving the data stored at the first memory location to another memory location different than the first memory location.

38. The computer system as recited in claim 34, wherein the first memory location is located on a solid state drive.

39. The computer system as recited in claim 34, wherein storing the data at the first memory location comprises transferring the data from the second memory location to the first memory location.

40. The computer system as recited in claim 34, wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are the same type of medium.

41. The computer system as recited in claim 40, wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are on the same medium.

42. The computer system as recited in claim 34, wherein the first memory location is selected for storing the data based on a determination that the first memory location is faster than the second memory location.

43. The computer system as recited in claim 34, wherein the data is executable code used during the next boot up procedure.

44. A computer system configured for:

assigning a classification to data based on a type of event that involves the data;

prior to occurrence of an event, preparing for the occurrence of the event by;

based on the classification, storing, at a first memory location, the data that is (a) currently stored at a second memory location and (b) to be used during the event;

wherein the first memory location is faster than the second memory location;

wherein the first memory location and the second memory location are non-volatile memory locations; and

performing the event at least in part by accessing the data stored at the first memory location.

45. The computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the event comprises execution of a program and wherein the data comprises at least a portion of a file used by the program.

46. The computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the step of storing the data at the first memory location is performed responsive to determining that the event occurs frequently.

47. The computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the data includes an executable program.

48. The computer system as recited in claim 44, wherein the first memory location is selected for storing the data based on a determination that the first memory location is faster than the second memory location.