System and method for managing a cache using file system metadata

A method for managing a multi-level cache for a device having a first cache and a second cache, the method comprising:

• storing an asset in the second cache as a cached asset;
• storing a version of the cached asset in the first cache;
• maintaining a first cache access count for the version of the cached asset in the first cache;
• encoding a second cache access count for the cached asset in an access count timestamp in metadata associated with the cached asset;
• and
• transforming a state of the second cache by evicting the cached asset from the second cache based on the access count timestamp value;
• updating the second cache access count with the first cache access count to generated an updated second cache access count;
• and
• encoding the updated second cache access count in an updated access count timestamp.

A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer executable instructions, the computer executable instructions comprising instruction executable to:

• store a version of a cached asset in a first cache, the cached asset stored in a second cache;
• maintain a first cache access count for the version of the cached asset in the second cache;
• encode a second cache access count for the cached asset in an access count timestamp in metadata associated with the cached asset;
• and
• transform a state of the second cache by evicting the cached asset from the second cache based on the access count timestamp value;
• update the second cache access count with the first cache access count to generate an updated second cache access count;
• and
• encode the updated second cache access count in an updated access count timestamp.