Control of cache data

Abstract

A machine-implemented method for controlling transfer of at least one data item from a data cache component, in communication with storage using at least one relatively higher-latency path and at least one relatively lower-latency path, comprises: receiving metadata defining at least a first characteristic of data selected for inspection; responsive to the metadata, seeking a match between said at least first characteristic and a second characteristic of at least one of a plurality of data items in the data cache component; selecting said at least one of the plurality of data items where the at least one of the plurality of data items has the second characteristic matching the first characteristic; and passing the selected one of the plurality of data items from the data cache component using the relatively lower-latency path.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine-implemented method for controlling transfer of at least one data item from a data cache component in communication with storage using at least one relatively higher-latency path and at least one relatively lower-latency path, the method comprising:
 receiving metadata defining at least a first characteristic of data selected for inspection;   responsive to said metadata, seeking a match between said at least first characteristic and a second characteristic of at least one of a plurality of data items in said data cache component;   selecting said at least one of said plurality of data items where said at least one of said plurality of data items has said second characteristic matching said first characteristic; and   passing the selected one of said plurality of data items from said data cache component using said relatively lower-latency path.   
     
     
         2 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said receiving metadata comprises receiving stored search criteria from at least one of a current search and a prior search. 
     
     
         3 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said passing comprises making a duplicate of said data item and passing said duplicate while leaving an original of said data item in said cache. 
     
     
         4 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said passing comprises passing the selected one of said plurality of data items to permanent storage. 
     
     
         5 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said passing comprises passing the selected one of said plurality of data items to at least one of inspectable permanent storage, an inspectable portion of said cache, a low-bandwidth communications channel, and a post-cache processor. 
     
     
         6 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising passing at least one unselected data item of said plurality of data items to inspectable storage using said relatively higher-latency path. 
     
     
         7 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising passing said selected one of said plurality of data items to a further cache having a higher flush speed than a cache used for at least one unselected data item of said plurality of data items. 
     
     
         8 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of data items is divided into a plurality of streams, wherein:
 said selecting further comprises selecting a stream by matching said first characteristic and said second characteristic of a said data item in said stream; and   wherein said passing comprises passing a plurality of data items from said stream.   
     
     
         9 . The machine-implemented method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising tagging said data item to expedite finding said data item for inspection. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for controlling transfer of at least one data item from a data cache component in communication with storage using at least one relatively higher-latency path and at least one relatively lower-latency path, the apparatus comprising:
 a receiver component operable to receive metadata defining at least a first characteristic of data selected for inspection;   a seeker component operable to respond to said metadata by seeking a match between said at least first characteristic and a second characteristic of at least one of a plurality of data items in said data cache component;   a selector component operable to select said at least one of said plurality of data items where said at least one of said plurality of data items has said second characteristic matching said first characteristic; and   a communications component operable to pass the selected one of said plurality of data items from said data cache component using said relatively lower-latency path.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said receiver component is operable to receive metadata comprising stored search criteria from at least one of a current search and a prior search. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a copying component operable to make a duplicate of said data item while leaving an original of said data item in said cache. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said communications component is operable to pass the selected one of said plurality of data items to permanent storage. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said communications component is operable to pass the selected one of said plurality of data items to at least one of inspectable permanent storage, an inspectable portion of said cache, a low-bandwidth communications channel, and a post-cache processor. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said communications component is further operable to pass at least one unselected data item of said plurality of data items to inspectable storage using said relatively higher-latency path. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said communications component is further operable to pass said selected one of said plurality of data items to a further cache having a higher flush speed than a cache used for at least one unselected data item of said plurality of data items. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said plurality of data items is divided into a plurality of streams, wherein:
 said selector is further operable to select a stream by matching said first characteristic and said second characteristic of a said data item in said stream; and   wherein said communications component is further operable to pass a plurality of data items from said stream.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said communications component further comprises a tagger component operable to tag said data item to expedite finding said data item for inspection. 
     
     
         19 . A computer program product stored on a non-transitory storage medium and comprising computer-readable code for controlling transfer of at least one data item from a data cache component in communication with storage using at least one relatively higher-latency path and at least one relatively lower-latency path, the computer-readable code comprising computer program code elements for:
 receiving metadata defining at least a first characteristic of data selected for inspection;   responsive to said metadata, seeking a match between said at least first characteristic and a second characteristic of at least one of a plurality of data items in said data cache component;   selecting said at least one of said plurality of data items where said at least one of said plurality of data items has said second characteristic matching said first characteristic; and   passing the selected one of said plurality of data items using said relatively lower-latency path.   
     
     
         20 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the computer program code element for receiving metadata comprises a computer program code element for receiving stored search criteria from at least one of a current search and a prior search. 
     
     
         21 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the computer program code element for passing comprises a computer program code element for making a duplicate of said data item and passing said duplicate while leaving an original of said data item in said cache. 
     
     
         22 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the computer program code element for passing comprises a computer program code element for passing the selected one of said plurality of data items to permanent storage. 
     
     
         23 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the computer program code element for passing comprises a computer program code element for passing the selected one of said plurality of data items to at least one of inspectable permanent storage, an inspectable portion of said cache, a low-bandwidth communications channel, and a post-cache processor. 
     
     
         24 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the computer program code element for passing further comprises a computer program code element for passing at least one unselected data item of said plurality of data items to inspectable storage using said relatively higher-latency path. 
     
     
         25 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the computer program code element for passing further comprises a computer program code element for passing said selected one of said plurality of data items to a further cache having a higher flush speed than a cache used for at least one unselected data item of said plurality of data items. 
     
     
         26 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said plurality of data items is divided into a plurality of streams, wherein:
 said computer program code element for selecting further comprises a computer program code element for selecting a stream by matching said first characteristic and said second characteristic of a said data item in said stream; and   wherein said computer program code element for passing comprises a computer program code element for passing a plurality of data items from said stream.   
     
     
         27 . The computer program product as claimed in  claim 19 , further comprising a computer program code element for tagging said data item to expedite finding said data item for inspection.