Allocating storage memory based on future file size or use estimates

Abstract

A method for allocating storage memory space is provided. The method involves receiving a request for storage memory allocation for a file of a current size; estimating a future size of the file, different than the current size of the file, based at least on a particular attribute associated with the file; and causing allocation of storage memory space for storage of the file based on the future size of the file.

1 . A method comprising:
 monitoring a size of a file with respect to one or more of time and number of access to the file;   receiving a request for storage memory allocation for said file having a current size;   determining a change in the monitored size of the file and the current size of the file;   estimating a future size of the file, different than the current size of the file, based at least on said determined change; and   causing allocation of storage memory for storage of the file based on the estimated future size of the file,   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 monitoring a size of each file of a plurality of files with a common characteristic;   determining a pattern associated with the plurality of files based on the monitoring; and   estimating the future size of the file also based on the determined pattern.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein estimating a future size of the file further comprises estimating an expected increase in file size based on a predicted modification to the file,
 wherein the modification is predicted based, at least in part, on a particular attribute associated with the file.   
     
     
         4 . A method comprising:
 in response to an initial creation of a file and before any storage memory allocation has been made for the file, receiving a request for storage memory allocation for the file of a current size;   in response to receiving the request, determining an initial storage memory allocation for the file by estimating a future size of the file, different than the current size of the file, based at least on a change in the size of the file over time and the current size of the file, based on a particular attribute associated with the file; and   causing allocation of storage memory for storage of the file based on the estimated future size of the file;   wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the request for storage memory allocation is received in response to an executed modification of the file from a previously stored version of the file. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the particular attribute is a file type of the file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the particular attribute comprises a pattern associated with one or more other files that have a characteristic in common with the file, wherein estimating the future size of the file comprises:
 determining one or more attributes of the file; and   identifying, based on the one or more attributes, the pattern in a set of mappings, each mapping associating a different pattern with a different set of one or more attributes.   
     
     
         8 . One or more computer readable storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes performance of steps comprising:
 monitoring a size of a file with respect to one or more of time and number of access to the file;   receiving a request for storage memory allocation for said file having a current size;   determining a change in the monitored size of the file and the current size of the file;   estimating a future size of the file, different than the current size of the file, based at least on said determined change; and   causing allocation of storage memory for storage of the file based on the estimated future size of the file.   
     
     
         9 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause:
 monitoring a size of each file of a plurality of files with a common characteristic;   determining a pattern associated with the plurality of files based on the monitoring, wherein the future size of the file is estimated based on the determined pattern associated with the plurality of files.   
     
     
         10 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 8 , wherein estimating a future size of the file comprises estimating an expected increase in file size based on a predicted modification to the file, wherein the modification is predicted based, at least in part, on a particular attribute associated with the file. 
     
     
         11 . One or more computer readable storage media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause:
 in response to an initial creation of a file and before any storage memory allocation has been made for the file, receiving a request for storage memory allocation for the file of a current size;   in response to receiving the request, determining an initial storage memory allocation for the file by estimating a future size of the file, different than the current size of the file, based at least on a change in the size of the file over time and the current size of the file, based on a particular attribute associated with the file;   causing allocation of storage memory for storage of the file based on the estimated future size of the file.   
     
     
         12 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the request for storage memory allocation is received in response to an executed modification of the file from a previously stored version of the file. 
     
     
         13 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the particular attribute is a file type of the file. 
     
     
         14 . The one or more computer readable media of  claim 11 , wherein the particular attribute comprises a pattern associated with one or more other files that have a characteristic in common with the file, wherein estimating the future size of the file comprises:
 determining one or more attributes of the file;   identifying, based on the one or more attributes, the pattern in a set of mappings, each mapping associating a different pattern with a different set of one or more attributes.