Patent ID: 7464246
Filing Date: 2008-12-09
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for caching data, comprising: maintaining a random data list and a sequential data list; dynamically establishing a desired size for the sequential data list, wherein the establishing act comprises: empirically determining a marginal utility of adding space to the random data list; computing a marginal utility of adding space to the sequential data list in terms of a rate of sequential misses; and based on the computing and determining acts, establishing the desired size of the sequential data list, wherein the empirically determining act comprises determining a rate “s” of sequential misses as the number of sequential misses during a time period defined by two successive cache hits in a bottom portion ΔL of the random data list, wherein the computing act determines the marginal utility to be equal to a number between s/L and 2 s/L, inclusive, wherein s represents a rate of sequential misses for synchronous and asynchronous prefetching and L represents the length of the sequential data list.