Patent ID: 7197618
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method of distributing objects in a heterogeneous group of data storage devices, the method comprising the steps of: breaking down each object into a plurality of blocks, distributing said blocks in the different storage devices in accordance with a distribution law which consists in distributing, in each of said storage devices, pieces of objects consisting each of one or of a plurality of blocks, the said method being characterized in that it uses as the parameter for managing the distribution of pieces of objects a coefficient, called the flexibility coefficient CF(i), representative of the difference between the weights of the pieces of the object (i), and characterized in that it comprises the steps of: when any new object is added, distributing the blocks of objects in said storage devices by specifying a given value of the flexibility coefficient, and for objects placed in the group of storage devices: periodically measuring and calculating values representative of the variability in popularity of each object, for each object, calculating from the aforesaid values measured or calculated at the instant t, a desired flexibility coefficient CFv(i) to be assigned to said object, according to a principle consisting in assigning to each object a flexibility coefficient inversely proportional to its variability in popularity, for each object (i), measuring and calculating at the instant t, the real flexibility coefficient CFr(i) of said object, representative of the difference between the weights of the pieces of said object, and commanding a movement of blocks of pieces of objects between the storage devices so as to obtain, for each object (i), a real flexibility coefficient CFr(i) corresponding to the desired flexibility coefficient CFv(i) for this object.