JP2917797B2 - Buffer expansion mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a buffer expansion mechanism in an information processing apparatus, and more particularly to a buffer expansion mechanism for suppressing buffer expansion according to the state of the information processing apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional information processing apparatus, a buffer area in a storage device is dynamically expanded during execution of a program in accordance with a storage area required by the program.
For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-27452 describes a technique in which a line control program dynamically acquires or releases a transmission / reception buffer or the like in an online network system. In this conventional technique, the acquisition process is performed dynamically when the transmission / reception buffer is required, and when the transmission / reception buffer is released, the one that is actually released from among those that have been unused for a certain period of time after the release request is released. You have selected.

[0003]

In the above-mentioned prior art,
If buffer acquisition is requested at one time,
There is a possibility that the storage device is occupied for the processing, and the performance of the entire system is reduced. For example,
When transmitting a large amount of data such as image data in a communication program, a large buffer area for storing the transmission data is required. In this case, if the acquisition of a large amount of buffer area is intensively performed at one time, access to the storage device from other programs will be hindered.
On the other hand, when starting up the operating system, a buffer area for the work of the operating system or the like is secured, but the buffer acquisition at this time is indispensable and does not need to be limited.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, to limit the continuous expansion of the buffer area, and to prevent a reduction in the processing performance of the entire system. It is another object of the present invention to eliminate the above restriction and to smoothly acquire a buffer when the acquisition of a buffer is indispensable. Furthermore, the present invention is intended to make it possible to judge them from the values already obtained without having to perform the calculation necessary for judging the limitation of these expansions and the relaxation of the limitation each time. The purpose is.

[0005]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus including a storage unit and a buffer area expansion unit for expanding a buffer area in the storage unit. Buffer area expansion elapsed time generation means for generating an elapsed time since the buffer area is expanded; buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means for storing a minimum time interval when the buffer area is expanded; and buffer area expansion suppression If the minimum time interval stored in the time interval storage means is not satisfied with the elapsed time generated by the buffer area expansion elapsed time generation means, the buffer area expansion means is notified to the buffer area expansion means to suppress the expansion of the buffer area. Suppression means.

[0006] The current time acquisition unit may include a timer indicating the current time, and the buffer area extension time storage unit may include a register for storing the time immediately before the buffer area was extended. The interval acquisition unit includes a subtractor that subtracts the time stored in the buffer area extension time storage unit from the current time indicated by the current time acquisition unit, and calculates the elapsed time since the last time the buffer area was extended. Alternatively, the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage unit may include a register for storing the elapsed time calculated by the buffer area expansion time interval obtaining unit, and the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage unit may store the minimum time when the buffer area is expanded. A register for storing the time interval may be included. The time of the current time acquisition unit may use a machine clock of the information processing device.

A buffer area usage obtaining means for detecting that the buffer area has been expanded by the buffer area expanding means; and a buffer area usage storing the buffer area usage by the buffer area usage obtaining means. Storage means; buffer area expansion suppression time interval calculation means for calculating the minimum time interval stored in the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means from the usage amount stored in the buffer area usage amount storage means; And a buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage unit that stores the maximum value of the used amount of the buffer area that does not suppress the buffer area. Further, the buffer area expansion suppressing means does not have to suppress the expansion of the buffer area if the usage amount stored in the buffer area usage amount storage means is smaller than the value stored in the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means.

[0008] The buffer area extension elapsed time generation means includes a current time acquisition unit that indicates the current time, a buffer area extension time storage unit that stores the time when the buffer area was extended immediately before, and a current time acquisition unit. A buffer area extension time interval acquisition unit that calculates an elapsed time since the buffer area was immediately extended from a current time and a time stored in the buffer area extension time storage unit; A buffer area extension elapsed time storage unit for storing the elapsed time calculated by the unit.

The buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means may include a register for storing a minimum time interval when the buffer area is expanded, and the buffer area usage storage means includes a register for storing the usage of the buffer area. The buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means may include a register for storing the maximum value of the usage amount of the buffer area which does not suppress the expansion of the buffer area.

[0010]

Next, an embodiment of a buffer expansion mechanism of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, a buffer expansion mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a storage unit 100, a buffer use process 230 that uses a buffer in the storage unit 100, and a buffer area in the storage unit 100. Buffer area expansion means 210 and buffer element acquisition means 2 for acquiring a buffer element from the buffer area
20. The buffer expansion mechanism further includes a buffer area usage acquisition unit 310 that obtains a used buffer amount, a buffer area expansion time interval acquisition unit 320 that calculates a time interval from the previous buffer expansion to the current time, Current time acquisition means 3 for obtaining the current time
30, a buffer area expansion suppression time interval calculating means 340 for calculating a time interval for suppressing the expansion of the buffer area based on the used buffer amount, and a buffer area expansion suppressing means for determining whether or not the expansion of the buffer area is to be suppressed. 350. In addition, this buffer expansion mechanism
Buffer area usage storage means 410 for storing the used buffer amount; buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420 for storing the upper limit value of the buffer usage as a condition value not to suppress the expansion of the buffer area; Buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430 for storing a time interval from the previous buffer area expansion as a condition value for suppressing expansion, and buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 440 for storing the elapsed time since the previous buffer area expansion.
And a buffer area extension time storage unit 450 for storing the previous buffer area extension time.

Referring to FIG. 2, the storage means 100 includes a plurality of buffer areas 110, and these buffer areas 1
10 further comprises a plurality of buffer elements 111. In the present invention, it is assumed that the buffer area is expanded in the storage unit 100 in units of the buffer area 110 and allocated to each buffer using process 230 in units of the buffer element 111 of the buffer area. It is assumed that the operating system manages the memory in units of the buffer area 110.

Referring to FIG. 1, the buffer use process 230 notifies the buffer element obtaining means 220 of obtaining a buffer in order to use the buffer. The buffer element acquisition unit 220 receives the notification from the buffer use process 230, checks whether there is an unused buffer element 111 available in the buffer area 110 reserved in the storage unit 100, and checks the necessary number of buffer elements 111. If there is, the buffer use process 230 occupies the buffer element 111 by a predetermined amount. At this time, if there is no necessary number of unused buffer elements 111, the buffer area expansion unit 210 is requested to expand the buffer area.

The buffer area expansion means 210, which has been requested to expand the buffer area, first checks whether or not the buffer can be expanded. The determination for this check is made by the buffer area expansion suppression means 350. The buffer area expansion suppression means 350 includes a buffer area usage storage means 410, a buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420,
With reference to the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430 and the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 440, it is determined whether or not the expansion of the buffer area is to be suppressed. In addition,
These storage means 410 to 440 can be constituted by registers.

Buffer area extension elapsed time storage means 440
And buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430
Is used to detect that expansion of a buffer area is requested at a time interval shorter than a predetermined time interval, and to suppress expansion of the buffer area. The buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 440 stores the elapsed time since the previous buffer area expansion, and this value is set by the buffer area expansion time interval acquisition means 320. The buffer area extension time interval acquisition means 320 calculates the elapsed time from the previous buffer area extension time by subtracting the value of the buffer area extension time storage means 450 from the value of the current time acquisition means 330. To this end, the buffer area extension time interval acquisition means 320 may include a subtractor. Further, the current time acquisition means 330 can be configured to include a timer. The buffer area extension time interval acquisition means 320 acquires the time from the current time acquisition means 330 when the buffer area is actually extended for checking whether the buffer area can be extended next time. It is stored in the time storage means 450.

Buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 4
The value stored in 30 is given as a condition of the minimum value of the time interval for expanding the buffer area. If the value of the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 440 is smaller than this value, the expansion of the buffer area is not performed. Is suppressed. The value of the time interval stored in the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430 is calculated by the buffer area expansion suppression time interval calculation means 340. The buffer area expansion suppression time interval calculation means 340 is a buffer area usage storage means 41.
Based on the buffer usage stored in 0, a value is set such that the larger the buffer usage, the larger the value stored in the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430. As a specific calculation method, for example, a method of obtaining by a linear function with the buffer usage as an input, a method of obtaining a table in which a time interval is set in advance for each buffer usage, and the like can be considered. .

As described above, the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 440 and the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 4
By setting the value to 30, when the buffer area expansion is requested, the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 4
When the value of 40 is less than the value of the preset buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430, the expansion of the buffer area is suppressed. In other words, by not expanding the buffer area when a predetermined time interval has not elapsed since the previous expansion of the buffer area, continuous and intensive expansion of the buffer area can be avoided.

On the other hand, buffer area usage storage means 410
The buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420 is used to determine whether to stop the buffer area expansion suppression. Buffer area usage storage means 410
Is used to store the amount of buffer area currently in use, and is updated by the buffer area usage acquisition unit 310 when the buffer area is expanded. The buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage unit 420 stores a condition value set in advance as described later to stop the suppression of the buffer area expansion. If the value of the buffer area usage amount storage means 410 is smaller than the value of the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420, the buffer area expansion suppression means 350 does not suppress the buffer area expansion. In such a situation, an indispensable buffer acquisition may be performed when the system is started up. Therefore, it is considered that suppressing the buffer acquisition is considered to be a cause of deteriorating the performance of the entire system. This is because if there is enough space in the memory, contention for real memory with other processes is unlikely to occur.

Buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 42
The condition value stored in 0 is used to stop suppressing the expansion of the buffer region when the amount of the buffer region currently in use is less than the condition value. Therefore, the condition value must be determined in consideration of the characteristics of the information processing device. For example, how much memory is required by the operating system to be used as a work area, how much memory is required by an application to be used as a work area, or if an operating system is connected to the information processing apparatus. The determination index is, for example, how much memory is assumed as the display data and input / output data area for each connection terminal and how many are connected.

Since the values set in both the buffer area usage storage means 410 and the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420 are to be compared by the buffer area expansion suppression means 350, the same unit is used for both. It must be able to provide. For example, the comparison may be made as the amount of memory used, or as long as the buffer area has a fixed length, the number may be compared.

By setting the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420 in advance in this way, the buffer area expansion non-restriction condition storage means 420 and the buffer area usage amount storage means 4
By comparing with 10, the suppression of the buffer area expansion can be stopped. That is, when the value of the buffer area usage storage unit 410 is smaller than the value of the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage unit 420, the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage unit 440 and the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage unit 430 Even if it is determined from the result that the extension of the buffer area should be suppressed, the suppression is not performed.

As a result of the check in the buffer area expansion suppressing means 350, if the buffer area expansion is not suppressed, the buffer area expanding means 210 newly creates the buffer area 110 in the storage means 100.
As a result, the buffer element obtaining means 220 causes the buffer use process 230 to occupy each buffer element 111 of the generated buffer area 110 by a required amount.

Next, the processing in the buffer expansion mechanism of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

Referring to FIG. 3, the buffer element obtaining means 220 receives a request from the buffer using process 230.
When a buffer area expansion request is issued from the buffer area expansion unit 210 to the buffer area expansion unit 210, the buffer area expansion unit 210
It is checked whether or not it has been suppressed (step 610). If it is determined that the suppression is not suppressed (step 620), the buffer area expansion unit 2
10 newly generates the buffer area 110 in the storage means 100 (step 630). This buffer area 1
The ten buffer elements 111 are occupied by the buffer use process 230 through the buffer element acquisition means 220.

On the other hand, if it is determined that the expansion of the buffer area is suppressed (step 620), the buffer area expansion means 210 informs the buffer use process 230 through the buffer element obtaining means 220 that the buffer cannot be obtained. (Step 640). This allows
The buffer use process 230 will then request buffer acquisition again. The operating system may dispatch another process instead of the buffer using process 230.

Referring to FIG. 4, step 610 of FIG.
When the buffer expansion suppression check process is started by
First, the buffer area extension time interval acquisition means 320 calculates the elapsed time from the previous buffer area extension time by subtracting the value of the buffer area extension time storage means 450 from the value of the current time acquisition means 330 as described above. (Step 611). Then, the calculated elapsed time is stored in the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 440 (step 612).

Next, as described above, the buffer area expansion suppression means 350 includes the buffer area usage storage means 410, the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420, the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430, and the buffer area expansion elapsed time. It is determined whether the expansion of the buffer area should be suppressed using the value of the storage unit 440 (step 6).
13). That is, the value of the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 440 is stored in the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 4.
If the value is smaller than 30, the expansion of the buffer area is suppressed. However, buffer area usage storage means 410
Is smaller than the value of the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 420, this suppression is not performed. The presence / absence of suppression of the buffer area expansion is determined by buffer area expansion suppression
50 notifies the buffer area extension means 210 (step 614).

Referring to FIG. 5, step 630 of FIG.
In the expansion process of the buffer area started by
After the above buffer area expansion, the buffer area expansion means 21
From 0, the buffer area usage acquisition unit 310 is notified that the buffer has been expanded (step 631). The buffer area usage acquisition unit 310 that has received the notification updates the buffer area usage storage 410 with the usage related to the buffer area expansion (step 632).

Next, the buffer area use amount storage means 4
With the update of 10, the buffer area expansion suppression time interval calculation means 340 recalculates the time interval at which the expansion of the buffer area should be suppressed (step 633). Then, the buffer area expansion suppression time interval calculation means 340 uses the calculated value to store the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 430.
Is updated (step 634).

The buffer area extension time interval acquiring means 320 acquires the current time from the current time acquiring means 330 (step 635). The buffer area extension time interval acquisition means 320 stores the current time, that is, the buffer area extension time, in the buffer area extension time storage means 450 (step 636). The value of the buffer area extension time storage means 450 is referred to next time when the presence or absence of the suppression of the buffer area extension is checked.

[0031]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, when the buffer area is dynamically expanded during execution of the program, a certain limit is imposed on the time interval for expanding the buffer area. This can prevent the buffer area from being continuously concentrated and expanded.
In addition, when the buffer area usage is small and the expansion of the buffer area is prioritized, such as when the system is started up, the expansion of the buffer area according to the system state is not performed by not restricting the expansion of the buffer area. It can be carried out. Furthermore, the provision of the buffer area usage amount storage means, the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means, the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means, and the buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means determine the expansion and relaxation of the expansion. Since the values of the respective storage means can be used at this time, there is also an effect that it is not necessary to recalculate the respective values each time a judgment is made.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an embodiment of a buffer expansion mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a configuration of a buffer area according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing in response to a buffer area expansion request according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for checking whether or not expansion of a buffer area is suppressed according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing when expanding a buffer area in the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 storage means 110 buffer area 111 buffer element 210 buffer area expansion means 220 buffer element acquisition means 230 buffer usage process 310 buffer area usage acquisition means 320 buffer area expansion time interval acquisition means 330 current time acquisition means 340 buffer area expansion suppression time interval Calculation means 350 Buffer area expansion suppression means 410 Buffer area usage storage means 420 Buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage means 430 Buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage means 440 Buffer area expansion elapsed time storage means 450 Buffer area expansion time storage means

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A buffer expansion mechanism in an information processing apparatus including a storage means and a buffer area expansion means for expanding a buffer area in the storage means, wherein an elapsed time since the last time the buffer area was expanded is generated. a buffer region extension elapsed time generating means, and the buffer region growing suppression time interval storage means for storing the minimum time interval when expanding the buffer area, the minimum time interval stored in the buffer region extension suppression time interval storing means when said buffer region extension elapsed time generating means elapsed time generated by does not meet, the buffer area extension suppression means for transmitting extended to suppress effect the buffer region expanding means of the buffer area, the buffer area extension means Buffer area usage acquisition means for detecting that the buffer area has been expanded A buffer region using amount storage means stores the amount of the buffer area by the buffer space usage acquisition unit, usage stored in the buffer area using amount storage means
A buffer region growing suppression time interval calculating unit that the minimum time interval is calculated to be larger to be stored in the buffer area extension suppression time interval storage means enough to increase, the amount of the buffer area that does not inhibit the extension of the buffer area Buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storing means for storing the maximum value of the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storing means, 2. The buffer expansion mechanism according to claim 1, wherein if the value is smaller than the stored value, expansion of the buffer area is not suppressed. 2. The buffer area extension elapsed time generation unit includes: a current time acquisition unit that indicates a current time; a buffer area extension time storage unit that stores a time immediately before the buffer area is extended; A buffer area extension time interval acquisition section that calculates an elapsed time since the buffer area was extended immediately before the current time indicated by the section and the time stored in the buffer area extension time storage section; 2. The buffer expansion mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising: a buffer area expansion elapsed time storage unit that stores the elapsed time calculated by the time interval acquisition unit. 3. The current time acquisition unit includes a timer indicating a current time; the buffer area extension time storage unit includes a register that stores a time at which the buffer area was extended immediately before; The time interval acquisition unit subtracts the time stored in the buffer area extension time storage unit from the current time indicated by the current time acquisition unit, and calculates the elapsed time since the last time the buffer area was extended. The buffer area expansion elapsed time storage unit includes a register for storing the elapsed time calculated by the buffer area expansion time interval acquisition unit; the buffer area expansion suppression time interval storage unit includes: A register for storing a minimum time interval when expanding the buffer area; the buffer area usage storage means includes a register for storing the usage of the buffer area. 3. The buffer expansion according to claim 2, wherein the buffer area expansion non-suppression condition storage unit includes a register for storing a maximum value of the used amount of the buffer area which does not suppress the expansion of the buffer area. mechanism.