Patent ID: 7822918

Claim:
A computer-implemented method of managing preallocated disk space, the computer-implemented method comprising: placing a plurality of requests for preallocated disk space on a disk space request queue, wherein each preallocated disk space is preallocated for a fixed amount of disk space and a fixed length of time, and wherein an application using an issued preallocated disk space for more than the fixed length of time results in the application being barred from further current use of the issued preallocated disk space; sorting the requests in the disk space request queue according to a priority algorithm that establishes a priority level for each of the requests, wherein the priority algorithm incorporates a size of disk space requested, a length of time that the requested preallocated disk space will be reserved, and a length of time that a requester of the preallocated disk space is willing to wait for allocation of the requested preallocated disk space; and allocating preallocated disk space to requesters according to the priority level established by the priority algorithm.