Multi-level buffer pool extensions

Abstract

A buffer manager that manages blocks of memory amongst multiple levels of buffer pools. For instance, there may be a first level buffer pool for blocks in first level memory, and a second level buffer pool for blocks in second level memory. The first level buffer pool evicts blocks to the second level buffer pool if the blocks are not used above a first threshold level. The second level buffer pool evicts blocks to a yet lower level if they have not used above a second threshold level. The first level memory may be dynamic random access memory, whereas the second level memory may be storage class memory, such as a solid state disk. By using such a storage class memory, the working block set of the buffer manager may be increased without resorting to lower efficiency random block access from yet lower level memory such as disk.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.