System and method for caching identification and location information in a computer network
First Claim
1. A method for caching information in a computer network, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
- placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location in the computer network at which the cache-enabled component resides, wherein the placing step places a location identifier that contains a list of network addresses specifying at least one server at which the corresponding cache-enabled component resides and the placing step places a tuple that contains a replica flag, the replica flag distinguishing at least between a master replica used for partitioning and another replica;
receiving an access request which identifies a requested component;
determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; and
servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request over a network communication link to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled,whereby the method reduces network traffic and server queries by first caching and then later referring to location information instead of gathering that information anew for each request.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for caching information in a distributed computer system such as a directory service system. Tuples in a client cache contain component identifiers and corresponding location identifiers. Tuples may contain a list of network addresses specifying at least one server containing additional location or object information, as well as replica flags which distinguish between read-only replicas, read-write replicas, and a master replica. Requests to access an object may be serviced by using cached information rather than making one or more attempts to obtain location information from servers. Tuples may be modified or invalidated such that read operations tend to be performed using read-only replicas. Cached tuples which contain a component identifier that is no longer valid because an object was moved or renamed may be invalidated. The cache may also be modified to redirect operations from a master replica to a non-master replica.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A method for caching information in a computer network, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location in the computer network at which the cache-enabled component resides, wherein the placing step places a location identifier that contains a list of network addresses specifying at least one server at which the corresponding cache-enabled component resides and the placing step places a tuple that contains a replica flag, the replica flag distinguishing at least between a master replica used for partitioning and another replica; receiving an access request which identifies a requested component; determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; and servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request over a network communication link to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled, whereby the method reduces network traffic and server queries by first caching and then later referring to location information instead of gathering that information anew for each request. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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9. A method for caching information in a computer network, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:
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placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location in the computer network at which the cache-enabled component resides, wherein the placing step places a location identifier that contains a replica-wide component identifier specifying a location at which the corresponding cache-enabled component resides and the placing step places a tuple that contains a replica flag, the replica flag distinguishing at least between a master replica used for partitioning and another replica; receiving an access request which identifies a requested component; determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; and servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request over a network communication link to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled, whereby the method reduces network traffic and server queries by first caching and then later referring to location information instead of gathering that information anew for each request. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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17. A computer network comprising:
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a client computer having a processor, a memory, and a means for receiving a component access request which identifies a requested component; a tuple cache residing on the client computer, the tuple cache capable of holding at least one tuple, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location in the network at which the cache-enabled component resides, wherein the tuple contains a replica flag, and the replica flag distinguishes between a master replica used for partitioning and at least one other replica; means for placing a tuple in the tuple cache; means for determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; and means for servicing the access request by sending a corresponding request over a network communication link to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled, wherein the server computer and the client computer are separate computers connected by the network communication link, the network further characterized in that the means operate to reduce network traffic and server queries by first caching and then later referring to location information instead of gathering that information anew for each request. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification