| 摘要 |
A method for managing data blocks in a cache buffer defining date block segments, and for automatically transferring data into and out of the cache buffer. A cache list comprises a plurality of entries each including information identifying a corresponding cache segment, and a set of consecutive data blocks stored in the cache segment. Providing cache status for a requested set of date blocks includes traversing the cache list to locate entries identifying the starting data block in the requested set, and consecutive data blocks successively following the starting data block without interruption, and identifying as a missing data block the first data block in said succession, including said starting data block, not identified in any entry. The missing data block is used to provide status: a full hit if the missing data block is not in the requested set; a miss if the missing data block is the starting data block in the requested set, or a partial hit otherwise. In response to a write command for a new set of data, the cache list is traversed to locate all entries identifying sets of data blocks overlapping the new set. If a located entry identifies a set of data blocks fully overlapping the new set, there is a full hit. If no entry is located, there is miss. Otherwise, there is a partial hit. The new set can be automatically transferred into a predesignated buffer area selected by the cache manager.
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