Data transfer priority levels

Abstract

A method begins by a processing module receiving updated weighting factors for each of a plurality of storage sets. The method continues with the processing module identifying locally stored encoded data slices of a plurality of locally stored encoded data slices for transfer to one or more storage sets of the plurality of storage sets based on the updated weighting factors. The method continues with the processing module, for each identified locally stored encoded data slice, assigning a transfer priority level. The method continues with the processing module, for each identified locally stored encoded data slice, facilitating transfer of the identified locally stored encoded data slice to the one or more storage sets in accordance with the corresponding assigned transfer priority level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for execution by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the method comprises:
 receiving updated weighting factors for each of a plurality of storage sets;   identifying encoded data slices of a plurality of encoded data slices stored in one or more of the plurality of storage sets for transfer based on the updated weighting factors and further by, for each of the plurality of encoded data slices, performing a distributed agreement protocol function on a corresponding slice name to produce a score of a plurality of scores, and identifying an encoded data slice for transfer based on a score associated with the identified encoded data slice corresponds to one or more other storage sets of the plurality of storage sets;   for each identified encoded data slice, assigning a transfer priority level; and   for each identified encoded data slice, facilitating transfer of the identified encoded data slice to the one or more other storage sets of the plurality of storage sets in accordance with a corresponding assigned transfer priority level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigned transfer priority level is based on one or more of:
 a historical frequency of access level, an expected frequency of access level or a prioritization request.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the encoded data slices are identified based on the updated weighting factors and slice names of the plurality of encoded data slices. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigned transfer priority level is based on one or more of:
 a schedule, a data type indicator, a data size indicator, or a DSN activity level.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer of the identified encoded data slices is based on a highest transfer priority level first. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the assigning of transfer priority levels is performed periodically or based on an event. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the transfer priority level of frequently accessed encoded data slices is assigned as a higher than average priority. 
     
     
         8 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprises:
 at least one memory section that stores operational instructions that, when executed by one or more processing modules of one or more computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), causes the one or more computing devices to:
 receive updated weighting factors for each of a plurality of storage sets; 
 identify encoded data slices of a plurality of encoded data slices stored in one or more of the plurality of storage sets for transfer based on the updated weighting factors and further by, for each of the plurality of encoded data slices, performing a distributed agreement protocol function on a corresponding slice name to produce a score of a plurality of scores, and identifying an encoded data slice for transfer based on a score associated with the identified encoded data slice corresponds to one or more other storage sets of the plurality of storage sets; 
 for each identified encoded data slice, assigning a transfer priority level; and 
 for each identified encoded data slice, facilitating transfer of the identified encoded data slice to the one or more other storage sets of the plurality of storage sets in accordance with a corresponding assigned transfer priority level. 
   
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8  further comprises:
 the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing modules, causes the one or more computing devices of the DSN to:
 assign the transfer priority level based on one or more of: a historical frequency of access level, an expected frequency of access level or a prioritization request. 
 
 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8  further comprises:
 the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing modules, causes the one or more computing devices of the DSN to:
 identify the encoded data slices based on the updated weighting factors and slice names of the plurality of encoded data slices. 
 
 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8  further comprises:
 the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing modules, causes the one or more computing devices of the DSN to:
 assign the transfer priority level based on one or more of: a schedule, a data type indicator, a data size indicator, or a DSN activity level. 
 
 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8  further comprises:
 the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing modules, causes the one or more computing devices of the DSN to:
 identify the transfer of the encoded data slices based on a highest transfer priority level first. 
 
 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 8  further comprises:
 the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the one or more processing modules, causes the one or more computing devices of the DSN to:
 assign the transfer priority level of frequently accessed encoded data slices as a higher than average priority. 
 
 
     
     
         14 . A computing device of a group of computing devices of a dispersed storage network (DSN), the computing device comprises:
 an interface;   a local memory; and   a processing module operably coupled to the interface and the local memory, wherein the processing module functions to:
 receive updated weighting factors for each of a plurality of storage sets; 
 identify encoded data slices of a plurality of encoded data slices stored in one or more of the plurality of storage sets for transfer based on the updated weighting factors and further by, for each of the plurality of encoded data slices, performing a distributed agreement protocol function on a corresponding slice name to produce a score of a plurality of scores, and identifying an encoded data slice for transfer based on a score associated with the identified encoded data slice corresponds to one or more other storage sets of the plurality of storage sets; 
 for each identified encoded data slice, assigning a transfer priority level; and 
 for each identified encoded data slice, facilitating transfer of the identified encoded data slice to the one or more other storage sets of the plurality of storage sets in accordance with a corresponding assigned transfer priority level. 
   
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the processing module further functions to:
 assign the transfer priority level based on one or more of: a historical frequency of access level, an expected frequency of access level or a prioritization request.   
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the processing module further functions to:
 identify the encoded data slices based on the updated weighting factors and slice names of the plurality of encoded data slices.   
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the processing module further functions to:
 assign the transfer priority level based on one or more of: a schedule, a data type indicator, a data size indicator, or a DSN activity level.   
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the processing module further functions to:
 transfer the identified encoded data slices based on a highest transfer priority level first.   
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the processing module further functions to:
 perform the assigning of transfer priority levels periodically or based on an event.   
     
     
         20 . The computing device of  claim 14 , wherein the processing module further functions to:
 assign the transfer priority level of frequently accessed encoded data slices as a higher than average priority.