Patent US6018745A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6018745A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupled file access
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
•
Filing: 1997-12-23
•
Granted: 2000-01-25
•
Expires: 2017-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A computer network system and technique enables linked files, such as those that are physically distinct but data dependent, to be simultaneously accessed. Elements, whether they are realized in hardware or software, are located in both the servers and the clients in a network. A remote data server (RDS) element in a server receives coupled file access (CFA) requests from clients. A corresponding element at the client includes the names of the linked files, a file access priority, and a file access communication timeout in the CFA request. The RDS element, upon accepting a CFA request, initializes a CFA thread. A CFA thread maps the requested files into virtual memory. The server, through the CFA thread, can then proceed to provide the requisite access from the virtual-memory-mapped images. Other elements within the network can therefore access the same files from the same or another virtual memory mapping. The coupled file accessing prevents mismatches of linked files.
Inventors
- 👤 Ohaness Kuftedjian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/14; G06F16/148; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/912; Y10S707/913; Y10S707/915; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/959; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99938; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
A method in a computer network system for accessing linked files, comprising the steps of: constructing, at a client, a coupled file access (CFA) request, wherein a plurality of linked files are requested by including at least a first and a second file identifier in said CFA request, the first and second files that correspond to said at least said first and second file identifiers being linked but unbundled; transmitting said CFA request from said client to a server; creating a new entry in a CFA list for said CFA request; determining whether said CFA request should be processed; and processing said CFA request at said server if the step of determining determines that said CFA request should be processed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
120 words
A method in a computer network system for accessing linked files, comprising the steps of: constructing, at a client, a coupled file access (CFA) request, wherein a plurality of linked files are requested by including at least a first and a second file identifier in said CFA request, the first and second files that correspond to said at least said first and second file identifiers being linked but unbundled; transmitting said CFA request from said client to a server; creating a new entry in a CFA list for said CFA request; determining whether said CFA request should be processed; and processing said CFA request at said server if the step of determining determines that said CFA request should be processed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, wherein (i) said at least said first and second file identifiers comprise first and second file names and (ii) said first and second files are linked because they have related data but are unbundled because they do not form a compound document.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of constructing further comprises the step of: attaching a file access priority and a file access communication timeout to said CFA request.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining further comprises the step of: determining whether said client has a different CFA request in progress; waiting for a predetermined amount of time if said client has said different CFA request in progress; and disregarding said CFA request if said different CFA request is still in progress after said predetermined amount of time has elapsed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing further comprises the step of: initializing a CFA thread capable of servicing said CFA request.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of creating a new entry comprises the steps of: entering information from said CFA request; entering an identifier of said client; and indicating a status of said CFA request.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 6, wherein the step of indicating a status of said CFA request comprises the step of: indicating that said status of said CFA request is a ready status.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing further comprises the steps of: selecting said CFA request from said CFA list based on a file access priority of said CFA request; and indicating that said CFA request is in an in progress status on said CFA list.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing further comprises the step of: opening an existing file mapping for at least said first and second files by enabling access of images of said at least said first and second files from a virtual memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of processing further comprises the step of: creating a new file mapping for at least said first and second files by mapping images of said at least said first and second files into a virtual memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: providing access, by said server to said client, to said plurality of linked files from a virtual-memory-mapped image of said plurality of linked files.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: transferring at least said first and second files simultaneously from said server to said client; and wherein the step of constructing a CFA request further comprises the step of constructing a coupled file transfer (CFT) request.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
135 words
A computer accessible memory system for implementing a coupled file access (CFA) in a computer network, the system comprising: a memory storing a plurality of files, wherein some of said plurality of files are linked, but unbundled, files; a server associated with said memory for providing access to said plurality of files in response to a CFA request from at least a first remote client, wherein the access provided responsive to said CFA request enables simultaneous access of linked files, said CFA request including at least a first and a second file identifier designating said linked files, said at least said first and second file identifiers corresponding to first and second files, respectively; and a CFA list, said CFA list including a plurality of CFA requests said plurality of CFA requests including said CFA request.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
A computer accessible memory system for implementing a coupled file access (CFA) in a computer network, the system comprising: a memory storing a plurality of files, wherein some of said plurality of files are linked, but unbundled, files; a server associated with said memory for providing access to said plurality of files in response to a CFA request from at least a first remote client, wherein the access provided responsive to said CFA request enables simultaneous access of linked files, said CFA request including at least a first and a second file identifier designating said linked files, said at least said first and second file identifiers corresponding to first and second files, respectively; and a CFA list, said CFA list including a plurality of CFA requests said plurality of CFA requests including said CFA request.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein (i) said at least said first and second file identifiers comprise at least first and second file names and (ii) said first and second files are linked because they have related data but are unbundled because they do not form a compound document.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein said CFA request further includes: a file access priority and a file access communication timeout period for said linked files.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein said server provides to said first remote client simultaneous access to said plurality of files.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein said server provides to both said first remote client and a second remote client simultaneous access to said plurality of files.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein said server further comprises: a CFA request queuing thread for initializing a CFA thread capable of servicing said CFA request.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein said server further comprises: a CFA request queuing thread for creating a new entry in said CFA list for said CFA request.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 19, wherein said new entry includes: information from said CFA request; an identifier of said first remote client; and a ready status indication.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein said server further comprises: means for opening an existing file mapping for at least said first and second files by enabling access of images of said at least said first and second files from a virtual memory.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, wherein said server further comprises: a virtual memory for receiving a new file mapping for at least said first and second files when either (i) no previous CFA request has requested said first and second files or (ii) said CFA request is a modification request.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
67 words
The computer accessible memory system of claim 13, further comprising: a virtual memory having a first file mapped image from a first CFA request from said first remote client and a second file mapped image from a second CFA request from a second remote client; and wherein said server provides simultaneous access for said first and second remote clients to said first and second file mapped images.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
164 words
A computer accessible memory system for implementing a coupled file access (CFA) in a computer network, the system comprising: a memory storing a plurality of files, wherein some of the plurality of files are linked files; a server associated with said memory for providing access to said plurality of files in response to a CFA request from a first remote client, wherein the access provided by said CFA request enables simultaneous access of linked files; a virtual memory having a first file mapped image from a first CFA request from said first remote client and a second file mapped image from a second CFA request from a second remote client; and wherein said server provides simultaneous access for said first and second remote clients to said first and second file mapped images and simultaneous transmissions to said first and second remote clients at a first bandwidth appropriate for said first remote client and at a second bandwidth appropriate for said second remote client, respectively.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
164 words
A computer accessible memory system for implementing a coupled file access (CFA) in a computer network, the system comprising: a memory storing a plurality of files, wherein some of the plurality of files are linked files; a server associated with said memory for providing access to said plurality of files in response to a CFA request from a first remote client, wherein the access provided by said CFA request enables simultaneous access of linked files; a virtual memory having a first file mapped image from a first CFA request from said first remote client and a second file mapped image from a second CFA request from a second remote client; and wherein said server provides simultaneous access for said first and second remote clients to said first and second file mapped images and simultaneous transmissions to said first and second remote clients at a first bandwidth appropriate for said first remote client and at a second bandwidth appropriate for said second remote client, respectively.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for accessing a plurality of linked files substantially simultaneously in a computer network system, comprising the steps of: receiving a coupled file access (CFA) request; adding a new CFA entry for said CFA request in a CFA list; inspecting at least one entry of said CFA list; selecting said at least one entry responsive to said step of inspecting; attempting to open an existing file mapping corresponding to said at least one entry; if said existing file mapping is opened in said step of attempting, then transmitting a plurality of files in accordance with said at least one entry; and if said existing file mapping is not opened in said step of attempting, then creating a new file mapping for said plurality of files in accordance with said at least one entry and subsequently transmitting said plurality of files in accordance with said at least one entry.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
149 words
A method for accessing a plurality of linked files substantially simultaneously in a computer network system, comprising the steps of: receiving a coupled file access (CFA) request; adding a new CFA entry for said CFA request in a CFA list; inspecting at least one entry of said CFA list; selecting said at least one entry responsive to said step of inspecting; attempting to open an existing file mapping corresponding to said at least one entry; if said existing file mapping is opened in said step of attempting, then transmitting a plurality of files in accordance with said at least one entry; and if said existing file mapping is not opened in said step of attempting, then creating a new file mapping for said plurality of files in accordance with said at least one entry and subsequently transmitting said plurality of files in accordance with said at least one entry.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said CFA request includes first and second identifiers of first and second files, respectively.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 26, wherein said first and second files comprise interdependent data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said new CFA entry includes an identifier of a requesting client, a priority indicator, and a request status.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 28, wherein said step of inspecting at least one entry of said CFA list comprises the step of inspecting said request status of said at least one entry.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said step of selecting said at least one entry responsive to said step of inspecting comprises the steps of (i) selecting said at least one entry if said request status of said at least one entry comprises a ready status and (ii) changing said request status of said at least one entry to an in progress status thereafter.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said step of creating a new file mapping for said plurality of files in accordance with said at least one entry comprises the step of mapping copies of at least a first file and a second file corresponding to said at least one entry into virtual memory.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of transmitting said plurality of files to a first client and a second client substantially simultaneously, but at differing data transfer rates, from said file mapping or said new file mapping.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-01-24 | 2003-07-26 | 2004-01-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-24 | 2007-07-26 | 2008-01-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-24 | 2011-07-26 | 2012-01-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |