Patent ID: 7127714
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for processing data transfer requests with respect to a storage device that requires mechanical actions in carrying out data transfers, comprising: sequentially accepting the data transfer requests; setting, if each accepted data transfer request is accompanied with a deadline for completing a requested data transfer, a time earlier than the deadline as a corresponding class switching time for the accompanied data transfer request; repeatedly checking whether a current time has exceeded the corresponding class switching time of each accepted data transfer request and classifying each accepted data transfer request into a first class when the current time has already exceeded the corresponding class switching time and each accepted data transfer request into a second class when the current time has not yet exceeded the corresponding class switching time; scheduling processing of first class data transfer requests that are classified as the first class by the classifying step according to a first scheduling policy in which a completion of data transfers requested by the data transfer requests within the deadlines specified for the data transfer requests is a primary key factor in determining an order of processing, and scheduling processing of second class data transfer requests that are classified as the second class by the classifying step according to a second scheduling policy in which a reduction of amounts of the mechanical actions required in carrying out data transfers requested by the data transfer requests is a primary key factor in determining an order of processing; and processing the data transfer requests according to a scheduling result obtained by the scheduling step so as to control the storage device to carry out data transfers requested by the data transfer requests.