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US5987479A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Large block allocation for disk-based file systems
Assignee: Sony Corp
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Filing: 1997-09-24
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Granted: 1999-11-16
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Expires: 2017-09-24
Abstract
Abstract A system for allocating block sizes in a computer file system is described. Input/output bandwidth requirements for disk access from an application is determined. Also determined is a data transfer characteristic for the drive being accessed. The minimum block size which reduces file fragmentation below a minimum threshold is then calculated as a function of the determined maximum input/output bandwidth and the data characteristic of the drive.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Joseph Oliver
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/06; G06F3/0601; G06F3/0602; G06F3/0608; G06F11/00; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3466; G06F11/3485; G06F3/0628; G06F3/0638; G06F3/0643; G06F3/0668; G06F3/0671; G06F3/0673; G06F3/0674; G06F11/3409; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of configuring a computer file system to reduce file fragmentation, the method comprising the steps of: determining the maximum input/output bandwidth requirement for data storage accesses for applications using said file system; determining a data transfer characteristic for a data storage device accessed by said applications; determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and calculating the block size as a function of said maximum input/output bandwidth and said data transfer characteristic, such that read/write operations to said data storage device result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
97 words
A method of configuring a computer file system to reduce file fragmentation, the method comprising the steps of: determining the maximum input/output bandwidth requirement for data storage accesses for applications using said file system; determining a data transfer characteristic for a data storage device accessed by said applications; determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and calculating the block size as a function of said maximum input/output bandwidth and said data transfer characteristic, such that read/write operations to said data storage device result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said data transfer characteristic comprises the maximum seek time for said data storage device to seek from one block on said data storage device to a second block on said data storage device, and the minimum data transfer rate of said data storage device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of programming said file system so that logical blocks on said data storage device are allocated an amount of space corresponding to the calculated block size.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said maximum threshold is selected such that file fragmentation is eliminated during write operations from said applications to said data storage device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said maximum threshold is different for one or more applications of said applications, and said step of calculating said minimum block size further comprises the step of allocating blocks of a first block size for a first set of applications of said applications, and allocating blocks of a second block size for a second set of applications.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
66 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said maximum input/output bandwidth requirement is different for one or more applications of said applications, and said step of calculating said minimum block size further comprises the step of allocating blocks of a first block size for a first set of applications of said applications, and allocating blocks of a second block size for a second set of applications.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method according to claim 3 wherein said the maximum input/output bandwidth requirement for data storage device accesses for applications using said file system comprises an amount of time required to perform seek operations and a minimum required data transfer rate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of determining the time required to perform seek operations between blocks representing discontinuous events stored on said data storage device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer file system to reduce file fragmentation, the apparatus comprising: means for determining the minimum input/output bandwidth requirement for disk drive accesses for applications using said file system; means for determining the maximum seek time for a disk drive accessed by said applications to seek from one block on said disk to a second block on said disk; means for determining the minimum data transfer rate of said disk drive; means for determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and means for calculating the block size as a function of said minimum input/output bandwidth and said maximum seek time, such that read/write operations to said disk drive result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
127 words
An apparatus for configuring a computer file system to reduce file fragmentation, the apparatus comprising: means for determining the minimum input/output bandwidth requirement for disk drive accesses for applications using said file system; means for determining the maximum seek time for a disk drive accessed by said applications to seek from one block on said disk to a second block on said disk; means for determining the minimum data transfer rate of said disk drive; means for determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and means for calculating the block size as a function of said minimum input/output bandwidth and said maximum seek time, such that read/write operations to said disk drive result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising means for programming said file system so that logical blocks on said disk are allocated an amount of disk space corresponding to the calculated block size.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a processor, and which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: determining the minimum input/output bandwidth requirement for disk drive accesses for applications using said file system; determining the maximum seek time for a disk drive accessed by said applications to seek from one block on said disk to a second block on said disk; determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and calculating the block size as a function of said minimum input/output bandwidth and said maximum seek time, such that read/write operations to said disk drive result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
123 words
A computer readable medium having stored thereon sequences of instructions which are executable by a processor, and which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: determining the minimum input/output bandwidth requirement for disk drive accesses for applications using said file system; determining the maximum seek time for a disk drive accessed by said applications to seek from one block on said disk to a second block on said disk; determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and calculating the block size as a function of said minimum input/output bandwidth and said maximum seek time, such that read/write operations to said disk drive result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
A computer according to claim 11 wherein the memory further contains instructions which cause the processor to perform the step of programming said file system so that logical blocks on said disk are allocated an amount of disk space corresponding to the calculated block size.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a data storage device coupled to said bus; and a processor coupled to said data storage device, said processor operable to receive instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: determining the maximum input/output bandwidth requirement for data storage accesses for applications using said file system; determining a data transfer characteristic for said data storage device; determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and calculating the block size as a function of said maximum input/output bandwidth and said data transfer characteristic, such that read/write operations to said data storage device result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
118 words
A computer system comprising: a bus; a data storage device coupled to said bus; and a processor coupled to said data storage device, said processor operable to receive instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of: determining the maximum input/output bandwidth requirement for data storage accesses for applications using said file system; determining a data transfer characteristic for said data storage device; determining a maximum threshold below which file fragmentation is acceptable for application input/output performance; and calculating the block size as a function of said maximum input/output bandwidth and said data transfer characteristic, such that read/write operations to said data storage device result in file fragmentation being below said threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
52 words
A computer system according to claim 13 wherein said data transfer characteristic comprises the maximum seek time for said data storage device to seek from one block on said data storage device to a second block on said data storage device, and the minimum data transfer rate of said data storage device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-15 | 2003-05-17 | 2003-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-15 | 2007-05-17 | 2007-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-15 | 2011-05-17 | 2011-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |