| Method of optimising the performance of a computer and a main non-volatile memory unit optimised using specific-use sections -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
  Method of optimising the performance of a computer and a main non-volatile memory unit optimised using specific-use sectionsRelated Patent Categories: Electrical Computers And Digital Processing Systems: Memory, Addressing Combined With Specific Memory Configuration Or System, Dynamic-type Storage Device (e.g., Disk, Tape, Drum)The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070226395. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This application is a Divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 10/496,808, filed on May 27, 2004, which claims priority to Mexico Patent Application No. PA/a/2001/012371, filed on Nov. 30, 2001, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. [0002] Currently, computers have attained wide acceptance in various fields since such devices are exceptionally useful tools for executing a considerable variety of tasks. Scientific developments and the use of new technologies have contributed to this fact and, at the same time, have accelerated the arrival of newer and better computers into the market, at a lower production cost. Among the components that have evolved to the highest degree, Central Processing Units (CPUs) stand out, to cite an example; they are increasingly becoming faster, smaller, and with more computing power than preceding generations. Other components that show a similar degree of technological refinement are devices used to provide computers with a main non-volatile storage medium, devices whose content remains even if the electrical energy supply is turned off, as is currently the case with hard disks or flash memory banks, which are becoming increasingly faster, more reliable, inexpensive, and with more capacity. [0003] Nevertheless, in spite of much important technological advancement, such as the above-mentioned, all computers equipped with a main non-volatile storage medium, without exception, show evidence of an observable fact that originates from the same operating system that makes them useful. This phenomenon reveals itself as a gradual decrease in the performance of a computer, a reduction in its overall speed, so to speak, which becomes more significant with the day-to-day use of the equipment. As is to be expected, the user perceives the effects of this phenomenon because he/she must wait more time on every occasion for his/her tasks to be processed, even though the same computer performed better months before. What is File Fragmentation? [0004] In order to perceive the existence of this phenomenon, a good example to refer to is a typical "IBM.RTM. PC Compatible" computer, like the ones used daily in millions of offices, with a hard disk set up as its main non-volatile storage medium, as follows. [0005] As the months go by, the user perceives a slow but sure increase in waiting times that reduce his/her productivity; little by little, his/her computer becomes less quick than when it was new. At the end of the first year, it is noticeable to the user that the equipment's performance has diminished to such an extreme that using it becomes unbearable. He/she might be able to wait for another year, but will eventually have to resort to professional help. Traditional techniques offer the following options to the user: (1) buy a newer, faster computer; (2) expand the existing hardware capacity, or up-grade it; (3) re-install the operating system and applications; (4) defragment the hard disk; or (5) a combination of the above. No matter what option is chosen, however, the effect on recovered performance will be temporary, short-term, because this is a recurrent phenomenon and the performance decrease will eventually reappear. [0006] The referred phenomenon is known as "file fragmentation". It reveals itself in the main non-volatile storage medium of a computer. Its main cause is the operating system installed in the equipment, since this software is the one that manages the available non-volatile storage space. Its other cause is the traditional configuration of the storage device, which has not changed for more than twenty years as is the case of the "IBM.RTM. PC Compatible" platform, to mention an example. How does File Fragmentation Begin? [0007] In order to describe with more detail how file fragmentation originates, another example will be useful. This time the focus will be on a personal computer, a new "IBM.RTM. PC Compatible" one, supplied with a hard disk as its main non-volatile storage medium, and with Microsoft.RTM. Windows 95.RTM. as its operating system, as is described as follows. [0008] The hard disk in this computer requires a preliminary set-up in order to begin operation. The traditional techniques applied to date on hard disks have a distinctive feature: they create a "primary partition" that is configured as the "active partition", and that occupies all, if not most, of the disk's storage capacity. Next, the disk is "formatted". The actions of "partitioning" and "formatting" a hard disk are most important, since this is the only way to establish on its surface a structure composed of hundreds of thousands and even millions of tiny portions of equal size (usually of 4,096 bytes) called "clusters". The usefulness of clusters is apparent whenever the operating system reads files from the hard disk or writes files onto it. [0009] Only after partitioning and formatting said main non-volatile storage medium, it is possible to achieve software installation, of operating system as well as applications, so that the computer is left ready to work. [0010] It is important to mention here that, for over twenty years, manufacturers of this kind of computers have been using the same configuration for hard disks. The feature that makes this traditional configuration so particular is that four basic elements for machine operation co-exist all within only one space, having to themselves all, if not most, of such media's storage capacity. The above-mentioned four basic elements are: (1) files that are part of the operating system; (2) temporary work files and those frequently up-dated, used by the operating system as well as by applications, such as the virtual memory swap file, the temporary Internet files, and the logs for errors and for events; (3) files that are part of the applications installed; and (4) the user's files. Similarly, vital and non-vital elements for machine operation share the same storage space. This traditional configuration of a hard disk might appear to be just that: an old-fashioned and harmless way of making work a non-volatile storage medium inside a computer. As will become apparent later, however, several significant and adverse consequences to the owner of computing equipment arise from such technique. [0011] After explaining the previous issue, it is now possible to discuss what happens when writing, reading or erasing a file on the hard disk. (1) When writing a file, the operating system first divides the data into chunks whose size (usually 4,096 bytes) is equal to that of a cluster. Then, it records such pieces onto the hard disk on the first available clusters that it finds, marking such clusters on a "map" as unavailable. (2) On the other hand, when reading a file is required, the operating system searches the "map" for those clusters that were used to store the file, gathering the bits of data and delivering them "in one piece" to whomever requested the reading. (3) Finally, in order to erase a file, the operating system again searches the "map" for those clusters related to the file, and marks them up as available, which causes the emergence of "gaps" that will be vacant on subsequent writings. [0012] In order to understand how file fragmentation begins, it is necessary to bear in mind that writing, reading, and erasing clusters goes on dozens, hundreds, and even thousands of times during a working session. For this reason, the emergence of "gaps" is progressive, and subsequent writings fill them by placing the new bits of data in clusters that turn out to be disperse, non-contiguous; that are not together, so to speak, which fragments the files that are being written without fail. Consequently, with the normal use of the equipment, the contents of the hard disk become increasingly fragmented due to the writing and the erasing operations that the operating system continuously performs. [0013] The result of the above is the afore-mentioned phenomenon of "fragmentation", sometimes called "hard disk fragmentation" when it takes place on such kind of media; albeit, in reality, as previously explained, what is fragmented is not the storage medium itself, but the files that it contains. Why is the Operating System the Main Cause of Fragmentation? [0014] The underlying reason that explains why the operating system participates as the main cause of such phenomenon is nothing less than the need to complete the task of writing files on the hard disk in the fastest possible manner, without taking time to find contiguous clusters that would allow a more efficient access to data on later readings. [0015] The activities that induce an operating system to fragment the contents of the main non-volatile storage medium include, among others, the following. (1) Turning-on and turning-off the computer, (2) managing the virtual memory swap file, (3) opening and closing applications, (4) opening and closing data files, (5) sending files to the printer, (6) surfing on the Internet, and (7) sending and receiving e-mail. Being almost all of these tasks originated by user activities, at the end, they are completed by the operating system itself, within the computer core, in the form of reading, writing and erasing operations on said storage medium. Why does Fragmentation Decrease Computer Performance? [0016] Fragmentation reduces computer performance because it progressively takes more time for the main non-volatile storage medium to complete those file reading, writing and erasing operations managed by the operating system. For example, in the particular case of a hard disk, the reading heads are required to achieve a vast number of moves in order to (1) read all disperse clusters that put together a fragmented file; or else, (2) to find those available clusters, that are usually also disperse, in order to write new files. [0017] Taking into account that, during a working session, the operating system handles the reading, writing and erasing operations of hundreds, thousands and even millions of files in the non-volatile storage medium, it is clear why the performance of a computer gradually decays as long as its contents keep on fragmenting. What is the Most Common Remedy for Fragmentation? [0018] The traditional solution that solves this problem is a process known as "file defragmentation", sometimes called "hard disk defragmentation" when this kind of media is involved. Such process implies the relocation of disperse bits of data from all those fragmented files within the main non-volatile storage medium, in a way that all subsequent readings and writings carried out by the operating system are more efficient and take less time. The positive effects of defragmentation are always temporary, as long as the files do not fragment again, however. Continue reading... Full patent description for Method of optimising the performance of a computer and a main non-volatile memory unit optimised using specific-use sections Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Method of optimising the performance of a computer and a main non-volatile memory unit optimised using specific-use sections patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Method of optimising the performance of a computer and a main non-volatile memory unit optimised using specific-use sections or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Alternate storage of repeated data within a data storage device Next Patent Application: Information reproducing apparatus and information reproducing method Industry Class: Electrical computers and digital processing systems: memory ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Method of optimising the performance of a computer and a main non-volatile memory unit optimised using specific-use sections patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.12854 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Electronics: Semiconductor , Audio , Illumination , Connectors , Crypto , |
||
