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US6014667A
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System and method for caching identification and location information in a computer network
Assignee: EMC Corp
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Filing: 1997-10-01
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Granted: 2000-01-11
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Expires: 2017-10-01
Abstract
Abstract Methods and systems are provided for caching information in a distributed computer system such as a directory service system. Tuples in a client cache contain component identifiers and corresponding location identifiers. Tuples may contain a list of network addresses specifying at least one server containing additional location or object information, as well as replica flags which distinguish between read-only replicas, read-write replicas, and a master replica. Requests to access an object may be serviced by using cached information rather than making one or more attempts to obtain location information from servers. Tuples may be modified or invalidated such that read operations tend to be performed using read-only replicas. Cached tuples which contain a component identifier that is no longer valid because an object was moved or renamed may be invalidated. The cache may also be modified to redirect operations from a master replica to a non-master replica.
Inventors
- 👤 Christopher Jenkins
- 👤 Randal Childers
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 04:17
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L61/00; H04L61/45; H04L61/4505; H04L61/4511; H04L61/4517; H04L61/58; H04L67/00; H04L67/01; H04L67/10; H04L67/1001; H04L67/1004; H04L67/1023; H04L67/50; H04L67/56; H04L67/568; H04L67/5682; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329; H04L67/1095; H04L67/564; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/912; Y10S707/922; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/959; Y10S707/964; Y10S707/966; Y10S707/971; Y10S707/972; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for caching information in a computer system, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location at which the cache-enabled component resides; receiving an access request which identifies a requested component; determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled; detecting access requests that seek to modify a cache-enabled component identifier, and invalidating cache tuples which contain that identifier.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method for caching information in a computer system, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location at which the cache-enabled component resides; receiving an access request which identifies a requested component; determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled; detecting access requests that seek to modify a cache-enabled component identifier, and invalidating cache tuples which contain that identifier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step places a location identifier that contains a list of network addresses specifying at least one server at which the corresponding cache-enabled component resides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the placing step places a tuple that contains a replica flag.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the placing step places a replica flag that distinguishes between a read-only replica, a read-write replica, and a master replica.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step places a location identifier that contains a replica-wide component identifier specifying a location at which the corresponding cache-enabled component resides.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the placing step places a tuple that contains a replica flag.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the placing step places a replica flag that distinguishes between a read-only replica, a read-write replica, and a master replica.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the servicing step includes sending the corresponding request to the server computer over a network communication link if the requested component is not cache-enabled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented step of reinitializing the cache.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the computer-implemented steps of: comparing a currently requested operation on a component with cached information about a previously requested operation on the component; reading the cache to obtain information about the location of the component; and revising the cached location information if the comparing step detects a predetermined difference between the previously requested operation and the currently requested operation.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for caching information in a computer system, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location at which the cache-enabled component resides; receiving an access request which identifies a requested component; determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled; and identifying a requested operation to be performed on a master replica, and redirecting the operation to a non-master replica to reduce the load on the master replica.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
129 words
A method for caching information in a computer system, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location at which the cache-enabled component resides; receiving an access request which identifies a requested component; determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled; and identifying a requested operation to be performed on a master replica, and redirecting the operation to a non-master replica to reduce the load on the master replica.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the redirecting step includes modifying the cache.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the placing step places a database-wide component identifier that identifies a database component.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving step receives an access request in response to a directory service request.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer system comprising: a client computer having a processor, a memory, and a means for receiving a component access request which identifies a requested component; a tuple cache residing on the client computer, the tuple cache capable of holding at least one tuple, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location at which the cache-enabled component resides; means for placing a tuple in the tuple cache; means for determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; means for servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled; and means for detecting access requests that seek to modify a cache-enabled component identifier and for invalidating cache tuples which contain that identifier.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
150 words
A computer system comprising: a client computer having a processor, a memory, and a means for receiving a component access request which identifies a requested component; a tuple cache residing on the client computer, the tuple cache capable of holding at least one tuple, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location at which the cache-enabled component resides; means for placing a tuple in the tuple cache; means for determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; means for servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled; and means for detecting access requests that seek to modify a cache-enabled component identifier and for invalidating cache tuples which contain that identifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the server computer and the client computer are separate computers connected by a network link.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the location identifier contains a list of network addresses specifying at least one server at which the corresponding cache-enabled component resides.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 15, wherein the tuple contains a replica flag.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the replica flag distinguishes between a master replica and at least one other replica.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the replica flag distinguishes between a read-only replica, a read-write replica, and a master replica.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 15, further comprising means for reinitializing the cache.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 15, further comprising means for revising the cached location information to encourage conformance with predetermined preferences that certain operations be performed using certain kinds of replicas.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 15, further comprising means for modifying the cache to redirect operations from a master replica to a non-master replica.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer storage medium having a configuration that represents data and instructions which will cause at least a portion of a computer system to perform method steps for caching tuples, the method steps comprising the steps of claim 1.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The storage medium of claim 24, wherein the method steps comprise the steps of claim 2.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The storage medium of claim 24, wherein the method steps comprise the steps of claim 4.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
16 words
The storage medium of claim 24, wherein the method steps comprise the steps of claim 11.
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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) | 2003-01-10 | 2003-07-12 | 2004-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-10 | 2007-07-12 | 2008-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-10 | 2011-07-12 | 2012-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |