Overlay Optimizer File Move Atomicity

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The static size of the overlay in Windows write filters leads to automatic reboots when full, degrading user experience and potentially leaving insufficient RAM for applications, especially in thin client environments with limited storage, where existing solutions either require manual application closure or are inefficient in freeing up space.

Innovation Solution

An overlay optimizer continuously monitors consumption and invalidates the file system cache when thresholds are reached, allowing immediate movement of files from the overlay to an overlay cache, and atomically manages file moves to ensure consistent handling during the process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the overlay size is increased to prevent automatic reboots, then system stability is improved, but available RAM for applications decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidavailable RAM

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically changes the overlay size parameter based on system conditions. Instead of using a fixed large overlay size, the system adjusts the overlay size dynamically to balance between preventing automatic reboots (maintaining stability) and preserving sufficient RAM for applications. This resolves the contradiction by making the overlay size adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic management of overlay files through the overlay optimizer component. The optimizer continuously monitors overlay consumption and dynamically moves files between the overlay and overlay cache based on access patterns and system state. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain stability while preserving RAM resources that would otherwise be consumed by a permanently large overlay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If the overlay size is decreased to preserve RAM for applications, then available memory increases, but the overlay becomes full more quickly causing automatic reboots

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailable RAMVSAvoidsystem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the overlay storage into two parts: the main overlay and the overlay cache. The overlay cache acts as an extension or backup storage area. When the main overlay approaches capacity, the optimizer moves less frequently accessed files to the overlay cache, effectively increasing the total available overlay space without requiring a larger main overlay allocation, thus preserving RAM while preventing reboots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The overlay cache serves as an intermediary storage between the main overlay and permanent disk storage. The overlay optimizer acts as a mediator that manages file placement between these storage locations based on access patterns. This intermediary approach allows the system to maintain a smaller main overlay (preserving RAM) while having additional cache space to prevent the overlay from becoming full and causing reboots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Use of energy by moving object

If files are moved from the overlay without invalidating the file system cache, then power consumption is reduced, but files cannot be moved until cache handles are closed causing delays

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidfile move delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The overlay optimizer performs preliminary actions by proactively monitoring overlay consumption and identifying files suitable for movement before the overlay becomes full. Instead of waiting for handles to be closed naturally, the optimizer prepares and executes file moves in advance, invalidating cache handles when appropriate. This preliminary action approach reduces both the delay in file moves and unnecessary power consumption from cache maintenance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The overlay optimizer implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors overlay consumption, file access patterns, and cache state. Based on this feedback, the optimizer dynamically decides when to invalidate cache handles and move files. This feedback-driven approach optimizes the balance between power consumption and file move timing, invalidating caches only when it benefits overall system performance rather than on a fixed schedule.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS11194765B2Accelerating and atomically moving files in an overlay optimizer

Publication Date: 2021.12.07 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

An overlay optimizer can be configured to accelerate the moving of files from an overlay and to atomically move files from the overlay. To accelerate the moving of files from the overlay, the overlay optimizer can continuously monitor the consumption of the overlay. If the consumption exceeds an optimized threshold, the overlay optimizer can cause the file system cache to be invalidated to thereby release handles to any closed files that are still cached. To move files atomically from the overlay, the overlay optimizer can be configured to handle attempts to open a file by determining whether the file is in the process of being moved from the overlay. If so, the overlay optimizer can detect which stage the move process has reached and can dynamically adapt the move process to enable the attempt to open the file to be completed successfully and in a consistent manner.