Method and system for managing data access requests utilizing storage meta data processing

Abstract

A method and system are provided for managing requests to access data in a computer environment. In one aspect of the present invention, a request manager receives a request associated with meta data corresponding to data that is maintained separately from the meta data. In another aspect, the request manager informs a data object manager of an anticipated request that will be received by the data object manager to enable it to prepare for the anticipated request. The data object manager commences preparing for the anticipated request in response to being informed of the anticipated request to facilitate a reduction in data access time. In one example of a computing environment utilizing one or aspects of the invention, a storage subsystem comprising a data object manager prepares for the anticipated request by pre-fetching data blocks from storage media into a cache.

1 . A method of managing requests in a communications environment, said method comprising: 
 receiving by a manager a request associated with meta data, said meta data corresponding to data maintained separately from the meta data; and    informing, by the manager, another manager of an anticipated request to be received by the another manager to enable the another manager to prepare for the anticipated request.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising preparing by the another manager for the anticipated request, said preparing responsive to said informing.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said preparing comprises managing contents of a cache in a data storage subsystem.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said preparing comprises managing a user's or a client computer's access to the data.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 sending, by the manager, a reply to a communications unit in response to the request substantially simultaneously with said informing; and    receiving, by the another manager, the anticipated request, wherein said preparing begins before the receiving by the another manager.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said managing contents comprises pre-fetching one or more data blocks from one or more storage media of the data storage subsystem whereby the data blocks are stored in the cache, the data blocks comprising at least some of the data.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein said managing contents comprises releasing storage locations of the cache whereby the storage locations become available for storing other data, the storage locations storing data blocks comprising at least some of the data.  
   
   
       8 . A request management system for a communications environment, said system comprising: 
 means for receiving by a manager a request associated with meta data, said meta data corresponding to data maintained separately from the meta data; and    means for informing, by the manager, another manager of an anticipated request to be received by the another manager to enable the another manager to prepare for the anticipated request.    
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising means for preparing by the another manager for the anticipated request, said means for preparing responsive to said means for informing.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said means for preparing comprises means for managing contents of a cache in a data storage subsystem.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said means for preparing comprises means for managing a user's or a client computer's access to the data.  
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 means for sending, by the manager, a reply to a communications unit in response to the request substantially simultaneously with informing the another manager of the anticipated request to be received; and    means for receiving, by the another manager, the anticipated request, wherein said means for preparing begins prepare for the anticipated request before the means for receiving receives the anticipated request.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said means for managing contents comprises means for pre-fetching one or more data blocks from one or more storage media of the data storage subsystem whereby the data blocks are stored in the cache, the data blocks comprising at least some of the data.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said means for managing contents comprises means for releasing storage locations of the cache whereby the storage locations become available for storing other data, the storage locations storing data blocks comprising at least some of the data.  
   
   
       15 . At least one program storage device readable by a machine embodying at least one program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method of managing requests in a communications environment, said method comprising: 
 receiving by a manager a request associated with meta data, said meta data corresponding to data maintained separately from the meta data; and    informing, by the manager, another manager of an anticipated request to be received by the another manager to enable the another manager to prepare for the anticipated request.    
   
   
       16 . The at least one program storage device of  claim 15 , wherein said method further comprises preparing by the another manager for the anticipated request, said preparing responsive to said informing.  
   
   
       17 . The at least one program storage device of  claim 16 , wherein said preparing comprises managing contents of a cache in a data storage subsystem.  
   
   
       18 . The at least one program storage device of  claim 16 , wherein said preparing comprises managing a user's or a client computer's access to the data.  
   
   
       19 . The at least one program storage device of  claim 16 , wherein said method further comprises: 
 sending, by the manager, a reply to a communications unit in response to the request substantially simultaneously with said informing; and    receiving, by the another manager, the anticipated request, wherein said preparing begins before the receiving by the another manager.    
   
   
       20 . The at least one program storage device of  claim 17 , wherein said managing contents comprises pre-fetching one or more data blocks from one or more storage media of the data storage subsystem whereby the data blocks are stored in the cache, the data blocks comprising at least some of the data.