Methods and systems for managing data

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata or indexes for index databases. In one exemplary method, different processing priorities are assigned to different indexing tasks based upon the origin of the task. In another exemplary method, indexing tasks are processed in a first mode when a data processing system is in a first power state and indexing tasks are processed in a second mode when the data processing system is in a second power state.

1 . A machine implemented method of processing data, the method comprising: 
 determining a power state of a data processing system;    establishing a first set of indexing queues or metadata importation queues if the data processing system is in a first power state;    establishing a second set of indexing queues or metadata importation queues if the data processing system is in a second power state..    
   
   
       2 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the first set of indexing queues is one queue and the second power state is designed to conserve more power than the first power state and the second set of indexing queues comprises at least two queues.  
   
   
       3 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the first set of indexing queues is at least one queue and the second set of indexing queues has more queues than the first set of indexing queues and indexing tasks in the first set of indexing queues have a higher priority than indexing tasks in the second set of indexing queues.  
   
   
       4 . A method as in  claim 1  wherein the data processing system is in the first power state when it is powered by an alternating current source and is in the second power state when it is powered by a battery.  
   
   
       5 . A method as in  claim 2  wherein when the data processing system is in the second power state indexing is performed for no more than a predetermined period of time after a last user action in a set of predefined user actions.  
   
   
       6 . A method as in  claim 5  wherein the set of predefined user actions does not comprise merely cursor movements.  
   
   
       7 . A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising: 
 determining a power state of a data processing system;    establishing a first set of indexing queues or metadata importation queues if the data processing system is in a first power state;    establishing a second set of indexing queues or metadata importation queues if the data processing system is in a second power state.    
   
   
       8 . A medium as in  claim 7  wherein the first set of indexing queues is one queue and the second power state is designed to conserve more power than the first power state and the second set of indexing queues comprises at least two queues.  
   
   
       9 . A medium as in  claim 7  wherein the first set of indexing queues is at least one queue and the second set of indexing queues has more queues than the first set of indexing queues and indexing tasks in the first set of indexing queues have a higher priority than indexing tasks in the second set of indexing queues.  
   
   
       10 . A medium as in  claim 7  wherein the data processing system is in the first power state when it is powered by an alternating current source and is in the second power state when it is powered by a battery.  
   
   
       11 . A medium as in  claim 8  wherein when the data processing system is in the second power state indexing is performed for no more than a predetermined period of time after a last user action in a set of predefined user actions.  
   
   
       12 . A medium as in  claim 11  wherein the set of predefined user actions does not comprise merely cursor movements.  
   
   
       13 . A data processing system comprising: 
 means for determining a power state of a data processing system;    means for establishing a first set of indexing queues or metadata importation queues if the data processing system is in a first power state;    means for establishing a second set of indexing queues or metadata importation queues if the data processing system is in a second power state.    
   
   
       14 . A system as in  claim 13  wherein the first set of indexing queues is one queue and the second power state is designed to conserve more power than the first power state and the second set of indexing queues comprises at least two queues.  
   
   
       15 . A system as in  claim 13  wherein the first set of indexing queues is at least one queue and the second set of indexing queues has more queues than the first set of indexing queues and indexing tasks in the first set of indexing queues have a higher priority than indexing tasks in the second set of indexing queues.  
   
   
       16 . A system as in  claim 13  wherein the data processing system is in the first power state when it is powered by an alternating current source and is in the second power state when it is powered by a battery.  
   
   
       17 . A system as in  claim 14  wherein when the data processing system is in the second power state indexing is performed for no more than a predetermined period of time after a last user action in a set of predefined user actions.  
   
   
       18 . A system as in  claim 17  wherein the set of predefined user actions does not comprise merely cursor movements.  
   
   
       19 . A machine implemented method for processing data, the method comprising: 
 processing requests for indexing of files or importing metadata of the files at a first priority when a data processing system is in a first power consumption state;    processing requests for indexing of at least some files or importing metadata of at least some files at a second priority when the data processing system is in a second power consumption state.    
   
   
       20 . A method as in  claim 19  wherein when the data processing system is in the second power consumption state, requests for indexing certain files are given the first priority and wherein the first power consumption state is designed to consume more power than the second power consumption state.  
   
   
       21 . A method as in  claim 20  wherein when the data processing system is in the second power consumption state, indexing is performed for no more than a predetermined period of time after a last user action in a set of predefined user actions.  
   
   
       22 . A method as in  claim 21  wherein the set of predefined user actions does not comprise merely cursor movements.