Patent US5668986A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5668986A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method and apparatus for handling data storage requests in a distributed data base environment
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-06-07
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Granted: 1997-09-16
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Expires: 2015-06-07
Abstract
Abstract A distributed database application for logging large volumes of data to a plurality of database servers. Central configuration management is employed to balance the database load, to direct requesting workstations to the appropriate database, and to manage the mirroring of data for fault tolerance and the location of distributed data for query, print, or archive purposes. This system is implemented using workstations and database servers, and configuration controllers connected to a dual network. Dual networks and dual configurators provide system redundancy for fault tolerance. The configuration controller provides database server access information to each requesting workstation. Each database server reports status and availability to the configuration controller which can then adjust future logging requests. The network operator can change the configuration stored in the configuration controller whenever reconfiguration is necessary such as by the addition of new database servers. A data logging modification is then communicated to each currently active requestor workstation by the configuration controller. Standard communications protocols are used between requestors, configurators, and the database servers which permits creation of a heterogeneous database server environment.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth Nilsen
- 👤 David Garcia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:33
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F11/00; G06F11/07; G06F11/16; G06F11/20; G06F11/2053; G06F11/2094; G06F11/2002; G06F11/2007; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/245; G06F16/2458; G06F16/2471; G06F16/27; G06F11/30; G06F11/34; G06F11/3409; G06F11/3433; G06F2201/00; G06F2201/80
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A computer implemented method for handling a request for data storage access in a distributed database environment having a data requestor and a plurality of database servers, said request originating from said requestor, said data requestor and said database servers being connected by a communications network, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining usage information regarding said database servers in a configuration controller connected to said data requestor and to said database servers via said network, said usage information indicating the availability of said database servers for storage of new data; transmitting said request for data storage access from said data requestor to said configuration controller; selecting a database server for said data storage access in accordance with said usage information; transmitting database server access information identifying the selected database server from said configuration controller to said data requestor; transmitting said new data from said data requestor to the database server identified by said access information; and updating said usage information to indicate the database server storing said new data.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A computer implemented method for handling a request for data storage access in a distributed database environment having a data requestor and a plurality of database servers, said request originating from said requestor, said data requestor and said database servers being connected by a communications network, said method comprising the steps of: maintaining usage information regarding said database servers in a configuration controller connected to said data requestor and to said database servers via said network, said usage information indicating the availability of said database servers for storage of new data; transmitting said request for data storage access from said data requestor to said configuration controller; selecting a database server for said data storage access in accordance with said usage information; transmitting database server access information identifying the selected database server from said configuration controller to said data requestor; transmitting said new data from said data requestor to the database server identified by said access information; and updating said usage information to indicate the database server storing said new data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of: transmitting a status message from said selected database server to said configuration controller upon the successful storage of said new data from said requestor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of selecting a database server for data storage access includes the steps of: comparing the volumes of data stored by said database servers; and selecting the database server with the least volume for data storage access.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for managing large volumes of data in a plurality of distributed databases, said system comprising: configuration means for maintaining usage information indicating the availability of said distributed databases for storage of new data; requestor means for generating a data storage request; a plurality of server means for storing data in said distributed databases; and means for interconnecting said configuration means, said requestor means and said server means via a communications network, said configuration means selecting one of said server means for data storage access in accordance with said usage information and transmitting server access information identifying the selected server means to said requestor means in response to said data storage request, said requestor means transmitting data to the server means identified by said access information for storage, said configuration means updating said usage information to indicate the database server storing said data.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
144 words
A system for managing large volumes of data in a plurality of distributed databases, said system comprising: configuration means for maintaining usage information indicating the availability of said distributed databases for storage of new data; requestor means for generating a data storage request; a plurality of server means for storing data in said distributed databases; and means for interconnecting said configuration means, said requestor means and said server means via a communications network, said configuration means selecting one of said server means for data storage access in accordance with said usage information and transmitting server access information identifying the selected server means to said requestor means in response to said data storage request, said requestor means transmitting data to the server means identified by said access information for storage, said configuration means updating said usage information to indicate the database server storing said data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said interconnecting means operates using a protocol for peer-to-peer data exchange between said configuration means, said requestor means and said plurality of server means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 4 wherein said plurality of server means comprise heterogeneous devices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said step of selecting a database server for data storage access includes the additional steps of: comparing the access loads of said database servers; and selecting the database server with the lowest access load for data storage access.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-09-15 | 2001-03-17 | 2001-09-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-09-15 | 2005-03-17 | 2005-09-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-09-15 | 2009-03-17 | 2009-09-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |