System, method and program to synchronize files in distributed computer system

• US 20070088755A1
• Filed: 10/13/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Twitter Inc (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: O'Connell, Brian, Nesbitt, Richard, Pearthree, Herbert, Vaughan, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,873 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/166 File name conversion

Abstract

System, method and program for making same data available from different file systems to clients. The data is transferred to each of the file systems. Respective time periods required to rename the data in the file systems from a first name to a second name are estimated. The data with the first name is not available to the clients. The data with the second name is available to the clients. Renaming of the data in the file systems from the first name to the second name is scheduled. The scheduling is based at least in part on the estimated respective time periods to rename the data in the file systems. Preferably, the scheduling is timed to result in completion of the renaming of the data in all of the file systems at approximately a same time. Preferably, one of the time periods to rename the data in the file systems is based at least in part on a time period to transfer the data to a server associated with the file system and a wait time within the server to schedule the renaming.

Claims

1. A method for making same data available from different file systems to clients, said method comprising the steps of:

transferring said data to each of said file systems;

estimating respective time periods required to rename said data in said file systems from a first name to a second name, said data with said first name not being available to said clients, said data with said second name being available to said clients; and

scheduling renaming of said data in said file systems from said first name to said second name, said scheduling based at least in part on the estimated respective time periods to rename said data in said file systems.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scheduling is timed to result in completion of said renaming of said data in all of said file systems at approximately a same time.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said time periods to rename said data in said file systems is based at least in part on a time period to transfer said data to a server associated with said file system and a wait time within said server to schedule said renaming.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said transferring step occurs before said estimating and scheduling steps.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said file systems reports one or more actual, recent time periods waiting to schedule said renaming, and the scheduling renaming step is based on part on said one or more actual, recent time periods.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data is a web page.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said data is a file.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scheduling renaming step is performed by a web server.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said estimating step is performed at least in part by a web server.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said scheduling renaming step allows time for all of said file systems to rename said data at substantially a same time.

11. A computer program product for making same data available from different file systems to clients, said computer program product comprising

a computer readable media;

first program instructions to initiate transfer of said data to each of said file systems;

second program instructions to estimate respective time periods required to rename said data in said file systems from a first name to a second name, said data with said first name not being available to said clients, said data with said second name being available to said clients; and

third program instructions to schedule renaming of said data in said file systems from said first name to said second name, said scheduling based at least in part on the estimated respective time periods to rename said data in said file systems; and

wherein

said first, second and third program instructions are stored on said media for execution by a computer.

12. A computer program product as set forth in claim 11 wherein said third program instructions time the scheduling of the renaming to result in completion of said renaming of said data in all of said file systems at approximately a same time.

13. A computer program product as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second program instructions base one of said time periods to rename said data in said file systems at least in part on a time period to transfer said data to a server associated with said file system and a wait time within said server to schedule said renaming.

14. A computer program product as set forth in claim 11 wherein said first program instructions initiate transfer of said data before said second program instructions estimate said respective time periods and said third program instructions schedule said renaming.

15. A system for making same data available from different file systems to clients, said system comprising:

means for transferring said data to each of said file systems;

means for estimating respective time periods required to rename said data in said file systems from a first name to a second name, said data with said first name not being available to said clients, said data with said second name being available to said clients; and

means for scheduling renaming of said data in said file systems from said first name to said second name, said scheduling based at least in part on the estimated respective time periods to rename said data in said file systems.

16. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for scheduling schedules the renaming to result in completion of said renaming of said data in all of said file systems at approximately a same time.

17. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein one of said time periods to rename said data in said file systems is based at least in part on a time period to transfer said data to a server associated with said file system and a wait time within said server to schedule said renaming.

18. A system as set forth in claim 15 wherein said means for transferring transfers said data before said means for estimating estimates said respective time periods and said means for scheduling schedules said renaming.