Patent US6574717B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6574717B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Techniques for time-based retention of a reusable resource
Assignee: Oracle International Corp
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Filing: 2001-05-31
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2021-05-31
Abstract
Abstract Techniques for managing, within a computer system, a resource that is reusable by a plurality of entities include establishing a minimum period of time for retaining an amount of the resource after completion of use of the resource by an entity. A first amount of the resource is allocated to a first entity. After allocating the first amount to the first entity, the first amount is prevented from being allocated to a second entity before the minimum period of time expires after the first entity completes use of the first resource. These techniques allow resources to be recycled and allocated for new uses by other entities in a computer system, but also guarantee the resources are retained in a given state for consistent use by other entities, even after the entity terminates that first had the resource allocated.
Inventors
- 👤 Gary Ngai
- 👤 Amit Ganesh
- 👤 Jonathan Klein
- 👤 Sujatha Muthulingam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/23; G06F16/2365
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for managing, within a computer system, a resource that is reusable by a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a minimum period of time for retaining an amount of the resource after completion of use of the resource by an entity; allocating a first amount of the resource to a first entity of the plurality of entities; and after allocating the first amount to the first entity, preventing the first amount from being allocated to a second entity of the plurality of entities before the minimum period of time expires after the first entity completes use of the first resource.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for managing, within a computer system, a resource that is reusable by a plurality of entities, the method comprising the steps of: establishing a minimum period of time for retaining an amount of the resource after completion of use of the resource by an entity; allocating a first amount of the resource to a first entity of the plurality of entities; and after allocating the first amount to the first entity, preventing the first amount from being allocated to a second entity of the plurality of entities before the minimum period of time expires after the first entity completes use of the first resource.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the minimum period of time is the minimum period of actual time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 wherein: the plurality of entities is associated with a software system; and the step of establishing the minimum period is performed during configuration of the software system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the step of allocating the first amount to the first entity further comprises storing first data indicating that the first amount of the resource is for use by the first entity; the method further comprises storing second data in association with the first data, the second data indicating an actual time when use of the first amount by the first entity is completed; and the step of preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second entity includes preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second entity until a time period at least as long as the minimum period of time has elapsed from the actual time indicated by the second data.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein: the second data indicates a null time before the first entity completes use of the first amount of the resource; the method further comprises the step of determining whether the second data indicates a null time; and the first amount is allocated to the second entity only after determining that the second data does not indicate a null time.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein: the resource is storage space; and the first amount of the resource comprises a plurality of blocks of storage, a block of storage having a size for a smallest amount of data moved between a storage medium and a main memory of the computer system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein: the resource is storage space; and the first amount of the resource comprises an extension for a file for storing temporary data generated by the first entity.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein: the method further comprises establishing a different minimum period of time before said step of allocating the first amount of the resource to the first entity; and said step of establishing the minimum period of time comprises changing to the minimum period of time from the different minimum period of time after said step of allocating the first amount of the resource to the first entity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein said step of establishing the minimum period of time comprises changing to the minimum period of time from the different minimum period of time based on data indicating usage of the resource.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the first amount of the resource is a first amount of storage space.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the first entity is a first transaction that causes changes to a first set of data.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of allocating the first amount of storage space comprises allocating the first amount of storage space to store information that indicates how to remove the changes made by the first transaction to the first set of data.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: determining whether all of the resource has been allocated; and if all of the resource has not been allocated, then performing said step of preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second entity before the minimum period of time expires after the first entity completes use of the first resource, and if all of the resource has been allocated, then preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second amount before the first entity completes use of the first resource.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for managing changes in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: when a first entity makes changes in a computer system, durably storing, in a first storage space, first information about how to remove the changes made by the first entity; and after the first entity has terminated, retaining the first information in the first storage space for a time based on a specified minimum amount of time.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for managing changes in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: when a first entity makes changes in a computer system, durably storing, in a first storage space, first information about how to remove the changes made by the first entity; and after the first entity has terminated, retaining the first information in the first storage space for a time based on a specified minimum amount of time.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the specified minimum amount of time is a period of actual time.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 , said step of durably storing first information further comprising the step of storing with the first information data indicating an actual time when the first entity is terminated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising the steps of: durably storing, in a second storage space, second information including data indicating the first storage space and the first entity; and when the first entity terminates, storing in the second storage space data indicating an actual time when the first entity terminates.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the first storage space comprises a plurality of storage blocks, each storage block storing a smallest amount of data moved between a storage medium of the computer system and a main memory of the computer system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of storage blocks are contiguous in the storage medium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method of claim 14 , said retaining the first information further comprising: when a second entity makes changes in the computer system at a first time, determining whether the first time is after a third time when the first entity has terminated by at least the specified minimum amount of time; and if the first time is after the third time, then durably storing in the first storage space, second information about how to remove the changes made by the second entity.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
134 words
The method of claim 17 , said retaining further comprising the steps of: when a second entity makes changes in the computer system at a first time, retrieving from the second storage space the data indicating the actual time when the first entity terminates; determining whether the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of time; and if the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of time, then durably storing, in the second storage space, third information including data indicating the first storage space and the second entity, and durably storing, in the first storage space, fourth information about how to remove the changes made by the second entity.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 14 , said step of retaining the first information in the first storage space further comprising retaining the first information in the first storage space until an earlier time of the specified minimum amount of time after the first entity has terminated, and a time when substantially all storage space for managing changes in the computer system has been consumed.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for managing changes in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: when a first entity makes changes in a computer system, durably storing, in a first storage space, first information about how to remove the changes made by the first entity; durably storing, in a second storage space, second information including data indicating the first storage space and the first entity; when the first entity terminates, storing in the second storage space data indicating an actual time when the first entity terminates; and after the first entity has terminated, retaining the first information in the first storage space for a time based on a specified minimum amount of actual time, said retaining comprising, when a second entity makes changes in the computer system at a first time, retrieving from the second storage space the data indicating the actual time when the first entity terminates, determining whether the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of actual time; and if the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of actual time, then durably storing, in the second storage space, third information including data indicating the first storage space and the second entity, and durably storing, in the first storage space, fourth information about how to remove the changes made by the second entity.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
240 words
A method for managing changes in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of: when a first entity makes changes in a computer system, durably storing, in a first storage space, first information about how to remove the changes made by the first entity; durably storing, in a second storage space, second information including data indicating the first storage space and the first entity; when the first entity terminates, storing in the second storage space data indicating an actual time when the first entity terminates; and after the first entity has terminated, retaining the first information in the first storage space for a time based on a specified minimum amount of actual time, said retaining comprising, when a second entity makes changes in the computer system at a first time, retrieving from the second storage space the data indicating the actual time when the first entity terminates, determining whether the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of actual time; and if the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of actual time, then durably storing, in the second storage space, third information including data indicating the first storage space and the second entity, and durably storing, in the first storage space, fourth information about how to remove the changes made by the second entity.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for managing, within a computer system, a resource that is reusable by a plurality of entities, the instructions for causing one or more processors to perform the steps of: establishing a minimum period of time for retaining an amount of the resource after completion of use of the resource by an entity; allocating a first amount of the resource to a first entity of the plurality of entities; and after allocating the first amount to the first entity, preventing the first amount from being allocated to a second entity of the plurality of entities before the minimum period of time expires after the first entity completes use of the first resource.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for managing, within a computer system, a resource that is reusable by a plurality of entities, the instructions for causing one or more processors to perform the steps of: establishing a minimum period of time for retaining an amount of the resource after completion of use of the resource by an entity; allocating a first amount of the resource to a first entity of the plurality of entities; and after allocating the first amount to the first entity, preventing the first amount from being allocated to a second entity of the plurality of entities before the minimum period of time expires after the first entity completes use of the first resource.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein the minimum period of time is the minimum period of actual time.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 24 wherein: the plurality of entities is associated with a software system; and the step of establishing the minimum period is performed during configuration of the software system.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
133 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 24 , wherein: the step of allocating the first amount to the first entity further comprises storing first data indicating that the first amount of the resource is for use by the first entity; the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform the step of storing second data in association with the first data, the second data indicating an actual time when use of the first amount by the first entity is completed; and the step of preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second entity includes preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second entity until a time period at least as long as the minimum period of time has elapsed from the actual time indicated by the second data.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
74 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein: the second data indicates a null time before the first entity completes use of the first amount of the resource; the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform the step of determining whether the second data indicates a null time; and the first amount is allocated to the second entity only after determining that the second data does not indicate a null time.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein: the resource is storage space; and the first amount of the resource comprises a plurality of blocks of storage, a block of storage having a size for a smallest amount of data moved between a storage medium and a main memory of the computer system.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 27 , wherein: the resource is storage space; and the first amount of the resource comprises an extension for a file for storing temporary data generated by the first entity.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
84 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 24 , wherein: the instructions further cause the one or more processors to perform the step of establishing a different minimum period of time before said step of allocating the first amount of the resource to the first entity; and said step of establishing the minimum period of time comprises changing to the minimum period of time from the different minimum period of time after said step of allocating the first amount of the resource to the first entity.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
40 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 31 , wherein said step of establishing the minimum period of time comprises changing to the minimum period of time from the different minimum period of time based on data indicating usage of the resource.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 24 , wherein the first amount of the resource is a first amount of storage space.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 33 , wherein the first entity is a first transaction that causes changes to a first set of data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 34 , wherein the step of allocating the first amount of storage space comprises allocating the first amount of storage space to store information that indicates how to remove the changes made by the first transaction to the first set of data.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
104 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 24 , the instructions further causing the one or more processors to perform the steps of: determining whether all of the resource has been allocated; and if all of the resource has not been allocated, then performing said step of preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second entity before the minimum period of time expires after the first entity completes use of the first resource, and if all of the resource has been allocated, then preventing the first amount from being allocated to the second amount before the first entity completes use of the first resource.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for managing changes in a computer system, the instructions causing one or more processors to perform the steps of: when a first entity makes changes in a computer system, durably storing, in a first storage space, first information about how to remove the changes made by the first entity; and after the first entity has terminated, retaining the first information in the first storage space for a time based on a specified minimum amount of time.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
81 words
A computer-readable medium carrying instructions for managing changes in a computer system, the instructions causing one or more processors to perform the steps of: when a first entity makes changes in a computer system, durably storing, in a first storage space, first information about how to remove the changes made by the first entity; and after the first entity has terminated, retaining the first information in the first storage space for a time based on a specified minimum amount of time.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 , wherein the specified minimum amount of time is a period of actual time.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 , said step of durably storing first information further comprising the step of storing with the first information data indicating an actual time when the first entity is terminated.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
63 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 , the instructions further causing the one or more processors to perform the steps of: durably storing, in a second storage space, second information including data indicating the first storage space and the first entity; and when the first entity terminates, storing in the second storage space data indicating an actual time when the first entity terminates.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 40 , wherein the first storage space comprises a plurality of storage blocks, each storage block storing a smallest amount of data moved between a storage medium of the computer system and a main memory of the computer system.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 41 , wherein the plurality of storage blocks are contiguous in the storage medium.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
86 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 , said step of retaining the first information further comprising: when a second entity makes changes in the computer system at a first time, determining whether the first time is after a third time when the first entity has terminated by at least the specified minimum amount of time; and if the first time is after the third time, then durably storing in the first storage space, second information about how to remove the changes made by the second entity.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
137 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 40 , said step of retaining further comprising the steps of: when a second entity makes changes in the computer system at a first time, retrieving from the second storage space the data indicating the actual time when the first entity terminates; determining whether the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of time; and if the first time is after the actual time when the first entity terminates by at least the specified minimum amount of time, then durably storing, in the second storage space, third information including data indicating the first storage space and the second entity, and durably storing, in the first storage space, fourth information about how to remove the changes made by the second entity.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
65 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 37 , said step of retaining the first information in the first storage space further comprising retaining the first information in the first storage space until an earlier time of the specified minimum amount of time after the first entity has terminated, and a time when substantially all storage space for managing changes in the computer system has been consumed.
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) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |