Software Parameter Management
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- executing software as a sequence of steps;
when a step occurs that requires at least one of a set of predetermined parameters, checking cache memory for at least one valid value of said at least one predetermined parameter;
if said at least one valid value of said predetermined parameter is in cache, obtaining said at least one predetermined parameter from cache;
if said at least on predetermined parameter is not contained in cache, checking a database for said at least one predetermined parameter;
if said at least one predetermined parameter exists in said database, moving it into cache, and using it in said step;
if said at least one predetermined parameter does not exist in said database, obtaining said at least one predetermined parameter from a third file other than cache and other than said database, and moving said at least one predetermined parameter into cache; and
using said at least one predetermined parameter in said step regardless of from where it was obtained.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus is disclosed for allowing the updating and overriding of software parameters used by one or more software programs. The parameters are preferably in cache. When the system needs any such parameter, it first checks cache, then a preferably remotely located database, and then, preferably a flat file on the same computer as the cache. The checking is done in the foregoing order, and the parameter is used upon locating a current version of it. If the current version is obtained from anywhere other than the cache, it is put into cache.
-
Citations
30 Claims
-
1. A method comprising:
-
executing software as a sequence of steps; when a step occurs that requires at least one of a set of predetermined parameters, checking cache memory for at least one valid value of said at least one predetermined parameter; if said at least one valid value of said predetermined parameter is in cache, obtaining said at least one predetermined parameter from cache; if said at least on predetermined parameter is not contained in cache, checking a database for said at least one predetermined parameter; if said at least one predetermined parameter exists in said database, moving it into cache, and using it in said step; if said at least one predetermined parameter does not exist in said database, obtaining said at least one predetermined parameter from a third file other than cache and other than said database, and moving said at least one predetermined parameter into cache; and using said at least one predetermined parameter in said step regardless of from where it was obtained. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
- 8. A method comprising executing a software application on an application server, using memory on said application server as cache memory, if a valid value of at least one parameter needed for said application can be found in said cache, using said valid value in said application, if not, first checking a remote file on a different server and then a local file on said application server for a valid value of said parameter, and if said valid value of said parameter is found in either said remote file or said local file, moving it into cache.
- 14. A method of using cache on a first computer, said method comprising populating said cache with parameters for use by a software application, said populating comprising obtaining some of said parameters from a first file located on said first computer, and others of said parameters from a second file located on a second computer connected over a network to said first computer, wherein at least some parameters are located both in said first file and in said second file, and wherein said step of obtaining comprises executing, by an application which requires use of at least one of any of said parameters, steps that first check said second file, and upon finding one of any of said parameters, places it into cache and uses it in said application, and upon not finding said one of any of said parameters, checks said first file, and upon finding said one of any of said parameters in said first file, populates said cache with said one of said parameters.
- 17. A computer system comprising a first computer, a second computer, and a network connecting said first and second computers, the first computer having a first file, the second computer having a second file, said computer system further comprising cache memory, and a processor programmed to execute an application that locates a parameter for use by first checking cache, then the second file, then the first, using the parameter when it is first located from any source, and loading it into cache at substantially the time of use if its not already in cache.
-
19. A computer system comprising:
-
a plurality of terminals connected to an applications server, the terminals being configured to execute concurrently one or more applications running on the applications server, the applications requiring a plurality of parameters, at least one file server; at least one data network configured to facilitate communications between said file server and said applications server wherein upon an application requiring use of a parameter, said application first checks a first memory source that does not require communications over said data network, second checks a second memory source that does require communications over said data network, and third checks a third memory source that does not require communications over said data network, wherein said first and third memory sources may provide data more quickly than said second data source, and wherein, if said parameter is deemed present and current in said second or third memory sources by not in said first, it is moved into said first memory source. - View Dependent Claims (20)
-
- 21. A system comprising computer storage containing a plurality of parameters for use by an application, at least one said parameter including an associated indicator of an additional source for a current version of said parameter, and a means for obtaining said parameter from said computer storage if a current version of said parameter exists therein, and, if said current version of said parameter does not exist therein, for checking first a potential second source and then said additional source if said parameter does not include said associated indicator, and if said parameter includes said associated indicator but if said current version of said parameter does not exist therein, checking said additional source without first checking said potential second source.
- 24. A method comprising placing a software parameter in a first file that can be accessed by a software application at a first speed, determining that said parameter needs to be replaced with an updated version, placing the updated version in a second file that can be accessed at a second and slower speed, using the updated version in a software application, and then placing the updated version thereafter in said first file to replace the software parameter.
-
29. A computer system comprising cache memory, a first file, and a second file, the computer system comprising software that requires at least one parameter to operate, and upon reaching a point in operation wherein said parameter is needed, checks for said parameter first a cache memory on a first computer, then a second file on a second computer, and then a first file on said first computer, and obtains and uses said parameter from whichever source is first determined to include a valid value of said parameter, and wherein if said valid value of said parameter utilized in not obtained from cache, moving said valid value into cache.
-
30. The computer system of claim 30 wherein at least one of said files is a database file.
Specification