Query Optimizer for Sleepy Disk Drive Energy Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sleepy disk drives impair computer performance due to significant lag times when activating from sleep mode, making them inefficient for enterprise databases and applications requiring instantaneous processing, and the energy required to activate them is substantial compared to leaving the drive spinning.

Innovation Solution

Integrating intelligence into a query optimizer that optimizes query processing and disk drive access by determining the usage frequency of indexes on both active and sleepy drives, transferring indexes accordingly, and controlling disk read/write heads to minimize energy consumption and performance impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the drive is put in sleep mode to save power, then energy consumption is reduced, but the activation lag time increases and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidactivation lag time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by anticipating future query requests based on historical query patterns stored in the log. When a query pattern is predicted, the index is proactively transferred from the sleeping drive to the active drive before the actual query occurs, eliminating the activation lag time when the query is executed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the state of drives based on predicted query patterns. Instead of static sleep/active states, the system continuously monitors query logs, predicts future access patterns, and dynamically transfers indexes between drives to optimize both power consumption and performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the drive is kept spinning to maintain performance, then instantaneous processing is achieved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing speedVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by anticipating future query requests based on historical query patterns. When a query pattern is predicted, the index is proactively transferred from the sleeping drive to the active drive before the actual query occurs, eliminating the activation lag time when the query is executed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses its own query history (log) to predict future queries and automatically manage the transfer of indexes between drives. This self-service mechanism allows the system to optimize its own performance and energy consumption without external intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Use of energy by moving object

If indexes are frequently transferred between active and sleeping drives, then power consumption is optimized, but the number of accelerations increases which consumes additional energy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidacceleration energy

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors query logs and uses this feedback to predict future query patterns. This feedback mechanism allows the system to make informed decisions about when to transfer indexes, minimizing unnecessary transfers and the associated acceleration energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS7653826B1Method and apparatus for query optimization and management of sleepy drives

Publication Date: 2010.01.26 X CORP

AI summary

The invention, in an embodiment, relates to optimizing database performance by taking advantage of sleepy drives. The invention analyzes queries to indexes based on usage frequency, and determines whether to access an index stored on a sleepy drive, or perform an alternate access plan based on green optimization. Furthermore, the invention transfers data, such as, for example, indexes, files, data areas, journals, and statistics, between active and sleepy drives based on usage frequency. In another embodiment, the invention provides an improved sleepy drive which optimizes energy savings by a graduated degree based on a speed setting. In yet another embodiment, the invention controls when read-write heads are unloaded from disks to reduce drag and power consumption by a disk drive.