Storage Management System Using Cursor Pointers for Memory Allocation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

High-availability storage systems face complexity in efficiently managing memory portions due to the large quantity of memory available, making simple processes like assigning memory for tasks complex.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a computer-implemented method using cursor pointers to maintain and update search locations within defined search windows to efficiently locate and manage unused or moderately utilized memory blocks within a storage platform, allowing for effective storage space management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If simple memory assignment processes are used, then the process is easy to implement, but the system becomes complex due to the large quantity of memory available

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of implementationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces cursor pointers as intermediary data structures that mediate between the storage management system and the large quantity of memory blocks. These cursor pointers serve as lightweight mediators that track and manage memory block states without requiring complex direct management of all memory resources, thus resolving the contradiction between simple implementation and system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If the search window is expanded to find unused memory blocks, then the search coverage is improved, but the search time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch coverageVSAvoidsearch time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a dynamic search window mechanism where the search window size and position are adjusted based on the cursor pointer's current state and the results of previous searches. The search window expands when memory blocks are released and contracts when searching for specific block types, allowing the system to adapt search coverage to actual needs rather than always performing exhaustive searches, thus balancing search coverage and search time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining cursor pointers that track the state of memory blocks in advance. When memory blocks are released, the cursor pointers are updated beforehand, so that when a search is initiated, the system can quickly identify available blocks without having to scan the entire memory space, thereby reducing search time while maintaining adequate coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11630584B2Storage management system and method
Publication Date: 2023.04.18 EMC IP HLDG CO LLC
  • US11630584B2 patent drawing
  • US11630584B2 patent drawing
  • US11630584B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method, computer program product, and computing system for maintaining a first cursor pointer for a memory system, wherein the first cursor pointer concerns a first search criteria and identifies an initial first cursor starting location; receiving a first search request for the memory system that satisfies the first search criteria; executing the first search request within an initial first search window starting at the initial first cursor starting location; and updating the first cursor pointer to identify an updated first cursor starting location based, at least in part, upon the initial first search window.