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Abstract

A digital data processing apparatus has a primary data storage element that stores data for access by one or more processes, as well as a secondary data storage element, e.g., a disk drive, for non-volatile data storage. A paging mechanism selectively transfers sets of data between the primary data storage element and an associated data file on the secondary data storage element. A directory stores 'atomic' signals, or bits, each reflecting a state of one or more subsets of data in respective sets. The paging mechanism includes a page-out element that stores data from a subset of a set to the associated data file. During paging, the page-out element responds to data in the subset which are associated with the atomic state (as indicated by the atomic bit) for storing to an associated status file on the secondary data storage element attributes of the paged data. Those signals can be, for example, the atomic bits themselves.

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First Claim