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US 8,554,964 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for efficient synchronization request response
AssigneeOracle America, Inc.
InventorsChristopher B. Tumblin, Ryan P. McCallister, Bradley E. Whitney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A data writing apparatus includes a tape drive, a buffer and non-volatile memory. When a synchronization request is received from a device sending data to be written to a tape, the apparatus is operable to copy data corresponding to the synchronization request from the buffer to the non-volatile memory. The data may be stored in the non-volatile memory until at least the time when the data which it is a copy of is written to the tape from the buffer.
Claims18
A method of backing up buffered data in a buffer, comprising:
- receiving a synchronization request;
- responding affirmatively to the synchronization request;
- ensuring buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request is stored in at least one non-volatile memory circuit;
- determining if the non-volatile memory circuit has sufficient space to store buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request;
- and
- if the non-volatile memory circuit lacks sufficient space to store the buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request, writing buffered data from the buffer to a tape, at least a portion of the buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request, until remaining data corresponding to the synchronization request is of sufficient size to be stored in the non-volatile memory.
3 more elements
A data storage apparatus comprising:
- a buffer to store data to be written to a tape;
- a tape drive, in communication with the buffer, to write data from the buffer to a tape;
- one or more non-volatile memory circuits to store data corresponding to a synchronization request;
- and
- a processor configured to instruct operation of the buffer, tape drive and non-volatile memory circuit, wherein, upon receipt of the synchronization request, the processor is configured to determine if the data stored in the buffer is stored in the one or more non-volatile memory circuits;
- wherein the processor is further configured to determine if the non-volatile memory circuit has sufficient space to store buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request;
- wherein the processor is further configured to instruct writing buffered data from the buffer to the tape, at least a portion of the buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request, until remaining unwritten data corresponding to the synchronization request is of sufficient size to be stored in the non-volatile memory, if the non-volatile memory circuit lacks sufficient space to store the buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request.
4 more elements
A data backup system comprising:
- a requesting device, comprising at least an outgoing stream of data;
- a backup device, comprising:
- an incoming stream of data corresponding to the outgoing stream of data;
- a buffer to store at least a portion of the incoming stream of data;
- a tape drive to write data stored in the buffer to a tape;
- and
- one or more non-volatile memory locations to store back-up versions of data in the buffer;
- wherein, upon detection of a synchronization request included with the incoming stream of data, the backup device is configured to ensure that data corresponding to the synchronization request is stored in the one or more non-volatile memory locations,
- wherein the back-up device is further configured to determine if the non-volatile memory circuit has sufficient space to store buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request,
- wherein the back-up device is further configured to write buffered data from the buffer to the tape, at least a portion of the buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request, until remaining unwritten data corresponding to the synchronization request is of sufficient size to be stored in the non-volatile memory, if the non-volatile memory circuit lacks sufficient space to store the buffered data corresponding to the synchronization request.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.