Method and apparatus for synchronizing dataset object properties with underlying database structures

• US 20050262169A1
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Hill, Michael J., Reising, Kenneth L., Christensen, Barbara A., Gretter, Eugene J., Horton, John C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,571,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of efficiently accessing shared JavaScript objects within a multi-user environment by reducing the overhead required to maintain object/database property synchronization. A version is associated with each object to indicate whether any particular requested access is associated with the most current properties of the object. Each user has a version list which indicates whether any particular object properties need be updated before access. The version list is maintained in faster and more available memory than the actual object to enhance efficiency.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a. a data base having a plurality of data objects;

b. a version property associated with one of said plurality of data objects;

c. a user session which generates a request involving access to said one of said plurality of data objects;

d. a version list associated with said user session having an assumed version property;

e. a comparator responsively coupled to said data base which compares said assumed version property with said version property; and

f. an update facility which updates said version list from said data base if said comparator finds said assumed version property does not equal said version property.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said user session further comprises a JavaScript object.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of data objects has a separate version property associated therewith.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said user session is responsively coupled to said data base via a publically accessible digital data communication network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said version properties is stored within said data base.

6. A method of maintaining synchronization of dataset object properties within a system permitting a plurality of instances of a given object comprising:

a. storing a version property within a data base containing said dataset object;

b. preparing a version list associated with a user session containing an assumed version property;

c. requesting access to said dataset object from said user session;

d. comparing said assumed version property to said version property; and

e. updating said version list from said data base if said comparing step determines that said assumed version property is not the same as said version property.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said user session further comprises a JavaScript object.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said version list is stored within a first memory which is faster than a second memory wherein said data base is stored.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said requesting step occurs over a publically accessible digital data communication network.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said assumed version property is transferred via said publically accessible digital data communication network during said requesting step.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a. storing means for storing a dataset and corresponding version property within a data base;

b. requesting means responsively coupled to said storing means for requesting access to said dataset;

c. maintaining means responsively coupled to said requesting means for maintaining version list containing an assumed version property; and

d. comparing means responsively coupled to said storing means for comparing said version property with said assumed version property.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising updating means responsively coupled to said comparing means for updating said version list if said comparing means finds said version property different from said assumed version property.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a publically accessible digital data communication network which couples said requesting means to said storing means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said storing means further comprises MAPPER data base management system.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said requesting means further comprises an industry standard personal computer.

16. In a data processing system having a user session which generates a request to access a dataset responsively coupled to a data base management system containing said dataset, the improvement comprising:

a. a version property associated with said dataset located within said data base management system;

b. a version list responsively coupled to said user session containing an assumed version property; and

b. a comparison facility responsively coupled to said data base management system which compares said version property with said assumed version property.

17. The improvement according to claim 16 further comprising an update facility responsively coupled to said comparison facility and said version list which updates said version list if said comparison facility finds said version property different from said assumed version facility.

18. The improvement according to claim 17 wherein said user session is responsively coupled to said data base management system via a publically accessible digital data communication netowrk.

19. The improvement according to claim 18 wherein said version list is stored in a memory having a faster access time than a memory containing said dataset.

20. The improvement according to claim 19 wherein said object further comprises a JavaScript object.

21. An apparatus for accessing a database comprising:

a. a data base having a plurality of data objects wherein each of said plurality of data objects has a separate version property associated therewith wherein each of said version properties is stored within said data base;

b. a particular version property associated with a particular one of said plurality of data objects;

c. a JavaScript object user session responsively coupled to said data base via a publically accessible digital data communication network which generates a request involving access to said particular one of said plurality of data objects;

d. a version list associated with said user session having an assumed version property;

e. a comparator responsively coupled to said data base which compares said assumed version property with said particular version property; and

f. an update facility which updates said version list from said data base if said comparator finds said assumed version property does not equal said particular version property.