Computer apparatus and method for autonomic adjustment of block transfer size

• US 7,181,588 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2003
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Johnson, David LeRoy, Ries, Joan Marie, Nordstrom, Michael Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): Elmore; Reba I.
• Application Number:
  US10/443,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236924A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,370 Days
• Field of Search: 711/153, 711/154, 711/166, 711/173
• US Class Current: 711/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/08 in hierarchically structured memory systems, e.g. virtual memory systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/061 Improving I/O performance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/064 Management of blocks

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.

Claims

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, wherein the specified block transfer size for a selected memory portion determines size of each block transferred from the selected memory portion when the selected memory portion is accessed;

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.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each memory portion comprises a file.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each memory portion comprises a virtual storage segment.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each memory portion comprises an extent of physical storage.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the specified block transfer size for a memory portion comprises an independent block transfer size for each process that accesses the memory portion.

6. An apparatus comprising:

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, wherein the specified block transfer size for a selected file determines size of each block transferred from the selected file when the selected file is accessed;

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.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the specified block transfer size for a memory portion comprises an independent block transfer size for each process that accesses the memory portion.

8. A computer-implemented method for accessing information in a memory portion, the method comprising the steps of:

specifying block transfer size for the memory portion independently from block transfer size of other memory portions, wherein the specified block transfer size for the memory portion determines size of each block transferred from the memory portion when the memory portion is accessed;

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.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein each memory portion comprises a file.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein each memory portion comprises a virtual storage segment.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein each memory portion comprises an extent of physical storage.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of specifying block transfer size for the memory portion specifies block transfer size for a selected process that accesses the memory portion independently of block transfer size for other processes that access the memory portion.

13. A computer-implemented method for accessing information in a file, the method comprising the steps of:

specifying block transfer size for the file independently from block transfer size of other files, wherein the specified block transfer size for the file determines size of each block transferred from the file when the file is accessed;

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.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the step of specifying block transfer size for the file specifies block transfer size for a selected process that accesses the file independently of block transfer size for other processes that access the file.

15. A computer-readable program product comprising:

(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, wherein the block transfer size for the selected memory portion determines size of each block transferred from the selected memory portion when the selected memory portion is accessed; and

(B) recordable media bearing the dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism.

16. The program product of claim 15 wherein each memory portion comprises a file.

17. The program product of claim 15 wherein each memory portion comprises a virtual storage segment.

18. The program product of claim 15 wherein each memory portion comprises an extent of physical storage.

19. The program product of claim 15 wherein the block transfer size for a memory portion comprises an independent block transfer size for each process that accesses the memory portion.

20. A computer-readable program product comprising:

(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, wherein the block transfer size for the file determines size of each block transferred from the file when the file is accessed; and

(B) recordable media bearing the dynamic block transfer size adjustment mechanism.

21. The program product of claim 20 wherein the block transfer size for a memory portion comprises an independent block transfer size for each process that accesses the memory portion.