Using reinforcement learning to select a DS processing unit

1. A computer readable storage device comprises:

at least one memory section for storing operational instructions that, when executed by a computing device of a storage network, cause the computing device to:

for a data access request, access a plurality of estimated efficiency models of a plurality of processing units of the storage network, wherein an estimated efficiency model of the plurality of estimated efficiency models includes a list of estimated efficiency probabilities corresponding to a list of data access request types for a processing unit of the plurality of processing units;

select one of the processing units from the plurality of processing units based on the plurality of estimated efficiency models, a type of request of the data access request, and a randomizing factor to produce a selected processing unit; and

send the data access request to the selected processing unit for execution.

2. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein an estimated efficiency probability of the list of estimated efficiency probabilities comprises one or more of:

an estimated time to complete the data access request by the processing unit;

an estimated probability that the estimated time will be met;

an estimated probability of an error occurring when executing the data access request; and

an estimated probability of a connection failure prior to fulfillment of the data access request.

3. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to the select the one of the processing units by:

when the randomizing factor indicates selecting an estimated most efficient processing of the data access request, selecting the one of the processing units having a highest estimated efficiency probability for the type of data access request.

4. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to the select the one of the processing units by:

when the randomizing factor indicates selecting an estimated second-most efficient processing of the data access request, selecting the one of the processing units having a second highest estimated efficiency probability for the type of data access request; and

when the randomizing factor indicates selecting an estimated third-most efficient processing of the data access request, selecting the one of the processing units having a third highest estimated efficiency probability for the type of data access request.

5. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to the select the one of the processing units by:

when the randomizing factor indicates randomly selecting, when the estimated efficiency processing of the data access request is above an efficiency threshold, selecting the one of the processing units at random.

6. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

create the plurality of estimated efficiency models based on one or more of historical performance data, estimated performance data, network bandwidth, network reliability, processing resources of the plurality of processing units, and data access request volumes.

7. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory section for stores further operational instructions that, when executed by a second computing device of the storage network, cause the second computing device to:

for a second data access request, access a second plurality of estimated efficiency models of the plurality of processing units;

select a second one of the processing units from the plurality of processing units based on the second plurality of estimated efficiency models, a type of request of the second data access request, and the randomizing factor to produce a second selected processing unit;

send the second data access request to the second selected processing unit for execution;

determine a second actual processing efficiency of a second processing of the second data access request by the second selected processing unit; and

update the estimated efficiency model of the second selected processing unit based on the second actual processing efficiency.

8. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

for a second data access request, access the plurality of estimated efficiency models;

select a second one of the processing units from the plurality of processing units based on the plurality of estimated efficiency models, a type of request of the second data access request, and the randomizing factor to produce a second selected processing unit;

send the second data access request to the second selected processing unit for execution;

determine a second actual processing efficiency of a second processing of the second data access request by the second selected processing unit; and

update the estimated efficiency model of the second selected processing unit based on the second actual processing efficiency.

9. The computer readable storage device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one memory section stores further operational instructions that, when executed by the computing device, cause the computing device to:

determine an actual processing efficiency of a processing of the data access request by the selected processing unit; and

update the estimated efficiency model of the selected processing unit based on the actual processing efficiency.