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US6877066B2
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Method and system for adaptive caching in a network management framework using skeleton caches
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 2001-06-29
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Granted: 2005-04-05
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Expires: 2021-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A method, system, apparatus, and computer program product is presented for management of a distributed data processing system. A network management framework dynamically adapts database operations so as to maximize system performance. A skeletonization mechanism is presented in which some objects are merely represented in a database cache as a skeleton object. A skeleton object holds only a fraction of an object's full complement of data; the skeleton object remains associated with its complete object, also termed its corresponding full object or non-skeleton object, which remains stored within its original location within a database. Skeletonized data can be updated on an as-needed or on-demand basis or when otherwise convenient; at that time, a skeleton handler can detect when a request is made for the object, retrieve the remaining data from persistent storage, and then mark the cached object as being a full object or non-skeleton object.
Inventors
- 👤 Jason Benfield
- 👤 Oliver Yehung Hsu
- 👤 Lorin Evan Ullmann
- 👤 Julianne Yarsa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/245; G06F16/2455; G06F16/24552; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for managing objects in a data processing system, the method comprising: creating a skeleton cache; storing a first object in the skeleton cache, wherein a skeleton cache stores skeleton objects and/or full objects, wherein a full object is an object in which each attribute within the full object has a data value, wherein a skeleton object is an object in which at least one attribute within the skeleton object is dataless, and wherein a skeleton object has a corresponding full object that is stored without the skeleton cache but within the data processing system; and retrieving a skeleton definition associated with the first object, wherein a skeleton definition is associated with a first object's type, wherein a skeleton definition indicates whether an attribute within the first object is a skeleton attribute, and wherein a skeleton attribute is a dataless attribute.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
142 words
A method for managing objects in a data processing system, the method comprising: creating a skeleton cache; storing a first object in the skeleton cache, wherein a skeleton cache stores skeleton objects and/or full objects, wherein a full object is an object in which each attribute within the full object has a data value, wherein a skeleton object is an object in which at least one attribute within the skeleton object is dataless, and wherein a skeleton object has a corresponding full object that is stored without the skeleton cache but within the data processing system; and retrieving a skeleton definition associated with the first object, wherein a skeleton definition is associated with a first object's type, wherein a skeleton definition indicates whether an attribute within the first object is a skeleton attribute, and wherein a skeleton attribute is a dataless attribute.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
87 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: fetching a full object; generating a skeleton object corresponding to the fetched full object; determining whether a first attribute in the fetched full object is a full attribute or a skeleton attribute in accordance with the fetched full object's skeleton definition; in response to a determination that the first attribute is a full attribute, copying the first attribute's data value from the fetched full object into the corresponding skeleton object; and storing the corresponding skeleton object in the skeleton cache.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: requesting a value of a second attribute of a second object; and determining whether the second object resides in the skeleton cache as a full object or as a skeleton object.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: in response to a determination that the second object resides in the skeleton cache as a full object, retrieving the requested value of the second attribute of the second object from the second object residing in the skeleton cache.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising: in response to a determination that the second object resides in the skeleton cache as a skeleton object, determining whether the second attribute in the second object is a full attribute or a skeleton attribute.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising: in response to a determination that the second attribute is a full attribute, retrieving the requested value of the second attribute of the second object from the second object residing in the skeleton cache.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 5 further comprising: in response to a determination that the second attribute is a skeleton attribute, retrieving the requested value of the second attribute of the second object from a corresponding full object for the second object stored within the data processing system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: determining whether to create a skeleton cache in accordance with a skeleton policy, wherein the skeleton policy comprises one or more configurable conditions for determining whether to create a skeleton cache.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a configurable condition is based upon an identity of a user of the data processing system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of membership of a user of the data processing system within a class of users.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of membership of a device for storing the skeleton cache within a class of devices.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of available memory.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of available memory within a device that stores the skeleton cache.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of available network bandwidth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 8 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a temporal evaluation of historical updates of objects stored within the data processing system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing a database access interface component between a data requester and a database; and embedding a skeleton handler within the database access interface component, wherein a skeleton handler performs operations on the skeleton cache on behalf of the database interface component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 16 further comprising: configuring a skeleton policy for the database access interface component, wherein the skeleton policy comprises one or more configurable conditions for determining whether to create a skeleton cache.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for managing objects in a data processing system, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a skeleton cache; means for storing a first object in the skeleton cache, wherein a skeleton cache stores skeleton objects and/or full objects, wherein a full object is an object in which each attribute within the full object has a data value, wherein a skeleton object is an object in which at least one attribute within the skeleton object is dataless, and wherein a skeleton object has a corresponding full object that is stored without the skeleton cache but within the data processing system; and means for retrieving a skeleton definition associated with the first object, wherein a skeleton definition is associated with a first object's type, wherein a skeleton definition indicates whether an attribute within the first object is a skeleton attribute, and wherein a skeleton attribute is a dataless attribute.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
148 words
An apparatus for managing objects in a data processing system, the apparatus comprising: means for creating a skeleton cache; means for storing a first object in the skeleton cache, wherein a skeleton cache stores skeleton objects and/or full objects, wherein a full object is an object in which each attribute within the full object has a data value, wherein a skeleton object is an object in which at least one attribute within the skeleton object is dataless, and wherein a skeleton object has a corresponding full object that is stored without the skeleton cache but within the data processing system; and means for retrieving a skeleton definition associated with the first object, wherein a skeleton definition is associated with a first object's type, wherein a skeleton definition indicates whether an attribute within the first object is a skeleton attribute, and wherein a skeleton attribute is a dataless attribute.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: means for fetching a full object; means for generating a skeleton object corresponding to the fetched full object; means for determining whether a first attribute in the fetched full object is a full attribute or a skeleton attribute in accordance with the fetched full object's skeleton definition; means for copying the first attribute's data value from the fetched full object into the corresponding skeleton object in response to a determination that the first attribute is a full attribute; and means for storing the corresponding skeleton object in the skeleton cache.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: means for requesting a value of a second attribute of a second object; and means for determining whether the second object resides in the skeleton cache as a full object or as a skeleton object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising: means for retrieving the requested value of the second attribute of the second object from the second object residing in the skeleton cache in response to a determination that the second object resides in the skeleton cache as a full object.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising: means for determining whether the second attribute in the second object is a full attribute or a skeleton attribute in response to a determination that the second object resides in the skeleton cache as a skeleton object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: means for retrieving the requested value of the second attribute of the second object from the second object residing in the skeleton cache in response to a determination that the second attribute is a full attribute.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 22 further comprising: means for retrieving the requested value of the second attribute of the second object from a corresponding full object for the second object stored within the data processing system in response to a determination that the second attribute is a skeleton attribute.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: means for determining whether to create a skeleton cache in accordance with a skeleton policy, wherein the skeleton policy comprises one or more configurable conditions for determining whether to create a skeleton cache.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a configurable condition is based upon an identity of a user of the data processing system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of membership of a user of the data processing system within a class of users.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of membership of a device for storing the skeleton cache within a class of devices.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of available memory.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of available memory within a device that stores the skeleton cache.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a determination of available network bandwidth.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein a configurable condition is based upon a temporal evaluation of historical updates of objects stored within the data processing system.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising: means for providing a database access interface component between a data requester and a database; and means for embedding a skeleton handler within the database access interface component, wherein a skeleton handler performs operations on the skeleton cache on behalf of the database interface component.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 33 further comprising: means for configuring a skeleton policy for the database access interface component, wherein the skeleton policy comprises one or more configurable conditions for determining whether to create a skeleton cache.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer program product on a computer readable medium for managing objects in a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: instructions for creating a skeleton cache; instructions for storing a first object in the skeleton cache, wherein a skeleton cache stores skeleton objects and/or full objects, wherein a full object is an object in which each attribute within the full object has a data value, wherein a skeleton object is an object in which at least one attribute within the skeleton object is dataless, and wherein a skeleton object has a corresponding full object that is stored without the skeleton cache but within the data processing system; and instructions for retrieving a skeleton definition associated with the first object, wherein a skeleton definition is associated with a first object's type, wherein a skeleton definition indicates whether an attribute within the first object is a skeleton attribute, and wherein a skeleton attribute is a dataless attribute.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer program product on a computer readable medium for managing objects in a data processing system, the computer program product comprising: instructions for creating a skeleton cache; instructions for storing a first object in the skeleton cache, wherein a skeleton cache stores skeleton objects and/or full objects, wherein a full object is an object in which each attribute within the full object has a data value, wherein a skeleton object is an object in which at least one attribute within the skeleton object is dataless, and wherein a skeleton object has a corresponding full object that is stored without the skeleton cache but within the data processing system; and instructions for retrieving a skeleton definition associated with the first object, wherein a skeleton definition is associated with a first object's type, wherein a skeleton definition indicates whether an attribute within the first object is a skeleton attribute, and wherein a skeleton attribute is a dataless attribute.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
99 words
The computer program product of claim 35 further comprising: instructions for fetching a full object; instructions for generating a skeleton object corresponding to the fetched full object; instructions for determining whether a first attribute in the fetched full object is a full attribute or a skeleton attribute in accordance with the fetched full object's skeleton definition; instructions for copying the first attribute's data value from the fetched full object into the corresponding skeleton object in response to a determination that the first attribute is a full attribute; and instructions for storing the corresponding skeleton object in the skeleton cache.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
42 words
The computer program product of claim 35 further comprising: instructions for determining whether to create a skeleton cache in accordance with a skeleton policy, wherein the skeleton policy comprises one or more configurable conditions for determining whether to create a skeleton cache.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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