Dynamic data distribution network with sink and source files for particular data types
First Claim
1. A method of distributing data in a digital data processing system having data producers that generate data, data consumers that use data, sink files associated with the data consumers, and with a specific type of data used by a specific one of the data consumers, and source files, each source file being associated with a specific type of data generated by a particular one of the data producers and including a list of sink files associated with data consumers that use the specific type of data, the method of distribution including the steps of:
- selectively copying the data generated by a specific one of the data producers into specific sink files identified and listed in the specific source file associated with the specific type of data generated by the data producer; and
transferring the data from the specific sink files to the data consumers associated with the source files.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A dynamic data distribution network (12) for use with a software package (10), which includes modules (14, 16, and 18) that produce data and modules (20, 22, 24, and 26) that consume data. The network includes source files (30) and sink files (32). Each data-consuming module contains one or more sink files, each of which serves as a buffer for one type of data used by the module. Each source file serves as a buffer for one type of data that is generated by a data-producing module. Each source file also contains a sink link table (40) that identifies the individual sink files, which serve as buffers for the data consumers that use that data. Whenever new data is generated, a data distribution task (34) initially stores the data in the associated source file and, then based on the contents of the sink link table, copies the data into the appropriate sink files associated with the data consumers that use the data. The data distribution function also informs the data consumers that new data are available in the sink file with which the data consumer is associated, enabling the data consumers to retrieve the data from the sink files.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of distributing data in a digital data processing system having data producers that generate data, data consumers that use data, sink files associated with the data consumers, and with a specific type of data used by a specific one of the data consumers, and source files, each source file being associated with a specific type of data generated by a particular one of the data producers and including a list of sink files associated with data consumers that use the specific type of data, the method of distribution including the steps of:
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selectively copying the data generated by a specific one of the data producers into specific sink files identified and listed in the specific source file associated with the specific type of data generated by the data producer; and transferring the data from the specific sink files to the data consumers associated with the source files. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method of transferring data in a digital data processing system, which has data producers that generate data and data consumers that use the data, the method including the steps of:
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establishing a plurality of sink files for storing the data used by the data consumers, each said sink file being associated with a specific type of data used by a specific one of the data consumers and including a consumer identification for the type of data used by an associated data consumer and a distinct sink file identifier; establishing a plurality of source files, each of said plurality of source files being associated with a specific type of data generated by one of the data producers and having a specific source file identifier; placing in each said source file at least one said sink file identifier that identifies a specific sink file associated with the type of data with which each source file is associated; distributing data from a data producer by placing a copy of the data in a specific sink file associated with the data, based on said sink file identifiers in said source file associated with the data; and transferring the data placed into the specific sink file to the data consumer associated with said sink file. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A dynamic data distribution network for use with a digital data processing system that includes data producers, which generate data, and data consumers that use the data generated by the data producers, each data consumer having a consumer identification for a particular type of data used by the data consumer, comprising:
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a plurality of sink files for storing data used by the data consumers, each of said plurality of sink files being associated with a specific type of data used by a different one of the data consumers and containing a buffer for storing the data used by the data consumer and, further, containing the consumer identification for the data used by the data consumer, each sink file having a particular sink file identification; a plurality of source files, each of said plurality of source files being associated with a particular type of data generated by one of the data producers, and including a sink file table that contains said sink file identifications for said sink files associated with the data consumers that use the particular data generated by the one of the data producers, each source file having a particular source file identification; distribution means for receiving distribute data commands, the distribute data commands including data to be distributed and including said source file identification for said source file associated with the data to be distributed, said distribution means, in response to receiving a distribute data command, storing the data to be distributed in said buffers of said sink files associated with the data consumers that use the data, based on reference to said sink file identifications in said sink file table contained in said source file associated with the data; and read means associated responsive to read data commands from the data consumers for reading the data to be distributed and the consumer identification associated with the data from said sink file associated with a data consumer that generates the read data command to the data consumer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification