Patent US6604183B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6604183B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Log storage management in a data processing system using key-pointing
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2001-06-27
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Granted: 2003-08-05
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Expires: 2021-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A data processing apparatus ( 10 , FIG. 1 ) has a direct access non-volatile storage device ( 103 ) on which log records are stored in one or more log files. The processor ( 101 ) allocates storage for the log based on possible future requirements. The processor sets the maximum amount of new data that can be written to the log before a key-point operation is performed. When the maximum is reached a key-point is performed. As a result the maximum possible size of the active data written as part of the next key-point can be calculated and storage is allocated accordingly. Should storage become restricted such that the required storage cannot be allocated the data processing apparatus runs in a restricted mode during which the records that are written to the log are concerned with reducing the size of the active data and therefore the next key-point. In transaction processing this is achieved by: not starting new transactions; not allowing transactions to involve new participants; and only allowing transactions to complete.
Inventors
- 👤 John Anthony Beaven
- 👤 Martin Mulholland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 04:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/14; G06F11/1474; G06F11/1471
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A data processing method for use on a data processing system, the data processing system having a direct access non-volatile memory storage device for storing log records thereon in one or more log files, the method comprising the steps of: writing log records to said log files when requested; performing a key-pointing operation on the written log records when a predetermined maximum cumulative size of log records, up to the first key-pointing operation or since the last key-pointing operation, is reached; calculating the amount of storage required to continue writing log records to the completion of a future key-pointing operation; and allocating said required amount of storage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
107 words
A data processing method for use on a data processing system, the data processing system having a direct access non-volatile memory storage device for storing log records thereon in one or more log files, the method comprising the steps of: writing log records to said log files when requested; performing a key-pointing operation on the written log records when a predetermined maximum cumulative size of log records, up to the first key-pointing operation or since the last key-pointing operation, is reached; calculating the amount of storage required to continue writing log records to the completion of a future key-pointing operation; and allocating said required amount of storage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said allocating step reuses some or all of the storage that becomes available as a result of a key-pointing operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 2 wherein said key-pointing operation starts writing records to the log in a new log file.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising the step of: operating in a reduced mode, in response to a predetermined condition, wherein during said reduced mode only log records that will be redundant in the next key-pointing operation are written to the log.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of allocating said required amount of storage is carried out immediately after a key-pointing operation is performed and wherein said predetermined condition for operating in a reduced mode of operation is the unavailability of said requested amount of storage for said allocation step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein, when operating in a reduced mode, said performing step performs an additional key-pointing operation after a record is written to the log that makes some previously active data redundant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method as claimed in claim 4 , which is a method of transaction processing whereby the log records represent transactional data that can be used to reconstruct a transactional environment that previously existed, said method further comprises the steps of: rejecting a request to start a new transaction when operating in said reduced mode; and rejecting a request to involve a new participant in a transaction when operating in said reduced mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer program product for running on a data processing system having a direct access non-volatile memory storage device for storing log records thereon in one or more log files, the program product, in operation, carrying out the steps of: writing log records to said log files when requested; performing a key-pointing operation on the written log records when a predetermined maximum cumulative size of log records, up to the first key-pointing operation or since the last key-pointing operation, is reached; calculating the amount of storage required to continue writing log records to the completion of a future key-pointing operation; and allocating said required amount of storage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
107 words
A computer program product for running on a data processing system having a direct access non-volatile memory storage device for storing log records thereon in one or more log files, the program product, in operation, carrying out the steps of: writing log records to said log files when requested; performing a key-pointing operation on the written log records when a predetermined maximum cumulative size of log records, up to the first key-pointing operation or since the last key-pointing operation, is reached; calculating the amount of storage required to continue writing log records to the completion of a future key-pointing operation; and allocating said required amount of storage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A computer program as claimed in claim 8 wherein the said allocating step reuses some or all of the storage that becomes available as a result of a key-pointing operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer program as claimed in claim 9 wherein the said key-pointing operation starts writing records to the log in a new log file.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
50 words
A computer program as claimed in claim 8 which in operation carries out the further step of: operating in a reduced mode in response to a predetermined condition, wherein during said reduced mode only log records that will be redundant in the next key-pointing operation are written to the log.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
55 words
A computer program as claimed in claim 11 wherein the said step of allocating said required amount of storage is carried out immediately after a key-pointing operation is performed and wherein said predetermined condition for operating in a reduced mode of operation is the unavailability of said required amount of storage for said allocation step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
38 words
A computer program as claimed in claim 12 wherein, when operating in a reduced mode, said performing step performs an additional key-pointing operation after a record that makes some previously active data redundant is written to the log.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
74 words
A computer program as claimed in claim 11 which is a transaction processing program whereby the log records represent transactional data that can be used to reconstruct a transactional environment that previously existed, said program, in operation carrying out the further steps of: rejecting a request to start a new transaction when operating in said reduced mode; and rejecting a request to involve a participant in a transaction when operating in said reduced mode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
100 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: a direct access non-volatile memory storage device for storing log records thereon in one or more log files; a writing means for writing log records to said log files; a key-pointing means for performing a key-pointing operation on the written log records when a predetermined maximum cumulative size of log records, up to the first key-pointing operation or since the last key-pointing operation, is reached; calculation means for calculating the required amount of storage to continue writing log records to completion of a future key-point; and allocation means for allocating said required amount of storage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
100 words
A data processing apparatus comprising: a direct access non-volatile memory storage device for storing log records thereon in one or more log files; a writing means for writing log records to said log files; a key-pointing means for performing a key-pointing operation on the written log records when a predetermined maximum cumulative size of log records, up to the first key-pointing operation or since the last key-pointing operation, is reached; calculation means for calculating the required amount of storage to continue writing log records to completion of a future key-point; and allocation means for allocating said required amount of storage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising a means to reuse some or all of the storage that becomes available as a result of a key-pointing operation.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said key-pointing means starts said key-pointing operation in a new log file.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 15 further comprising: a restriction means responsive to a predetermined condition to enable a reduced mode of operation during which only log records that will be redundant in the next key-pointing operation may be written.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said predetermined condition is the unavailability of said required amount of storage to said allocation means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein, when said reduced mode of operation is active, said key-pointing means performs an additional key-pointing operation after a record that makes some previously active data redundant is written to the log, said allocation means allocating storage in response to each key-pointing operation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 which is capable of transaction processing wherein the log records represent transactional data that can be used to reconstruct the transactional environment that previously existed in the apparatus, the apparatus further comprising: start means to start a new transaction; involvement means to involve a participant in a transaction; and finish means to complete a transaction; wherein said restriction means disables said start means and said involvement means when said reduced mode is active.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-08-04 | 2007-02-03 | 2007-08-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-08-04 | 2011-02-03 | 2011-08-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-08-04 | 2015-02-03 | 2015-08-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |