Patent ID: 8775390
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A implemented-complemented method for maintaining, by a processor, data objects in a storage space, comprising: maintaining a chunk index having information on chunks in the storage space referenced in data objects, wherein the chunk index includes a reference count for each chunk indicating a number of the data objects in which the chunk is referenced and a reference measurement representing a level of the data objects references to the chunk; selecting one chunk to remove from the storage space based on a criteria applied to the reference measurements of chunks having reference counts indicating that the chunks are not referenced in one of the data objects in the storage space, wherein the reference measurement of each chunk comprises a time most recently dereferenced indicating a time when the reference count for the chunk was decremented to indicate that the chunk is not referenced in one of the data objects; and returning indication of the selected chunk to remove from the storage space.