Patent Reveals Method for Allocating Resources between Storage Devices in Data Storage Systems

Strategic Insights -

Data storage systems, including those made up of solid-state disks (SSDs) and slower devices like Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA) drives, often experience performance limitations due to the way resources are allocated and shared among devices. In an effort to address this issue, inventors at International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) have developed a method for allocating resources between storage devices in a way that minimizes conflicts and maximizes performance.

Key Takeaways:

  • The patent, titled "Apparatus and Method for Sharing Resources between Storage Devices," was filed on September 14, 2012, and published online on December 1, 2015.
  • The inventors, Michael T. Benhase, Matthew J. Kalos, and Karl A. Nielsen, propose a method for allocating resources among storage devices in a data storage system, ensuring that each device receives the necessary resources to perform its tasks efficiently.
  • The method involves identifying three sets of resources: one for the first group of storage devices, one for the second group, and a shared set of resources that can be allocated dynamically to either group.
  • By using an allocation algorithm to manage the shared resources, the method ensures that devices do not compete for the same resources, reducing conflicts and increasing overall performance.
  • The method can be implemented using a storage management application, a non-transitory computer-readable medium, or a computer program product.
  • The article of manufacture, comprising the storage management application and the non-transitory computer-readable medium, can be used to implement the method.
  • The method is particularly useful in data storage systems that include a high-performance tier and a lower-performance tier, such as those using SSDs and SATA drives.

Statistics:

  • The patent, U.S. Patent Number 9201598, was filed on September 14, 2012.
  • The patent was published online on December 1, 2015.
  • The inventors, Michael T. Benhase, Matthew J. Kalos, and Karl A. Nielsen, are affiliated with IBM.

Sources:

  • Benhase, Michael T.; Kalos, Matthew J.; Nielsen, Karl A.. Apparatus and Method for Sharing Resources between Storage Devices. U.S. Patent Number 9201598, filed September 14, 2012, and published online on December 1, 2015. Patent URL: http://patft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PALL&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.htm&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=9201598.PN.&OS=PN/9201598RS=PN/9201598