Distributed metadata system and method

• US 6,240,416 B1
• Filed: 09/11/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Riverbed Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ambeo Incorporated
• Inventors: Immon, William Harvey, Richardson, Kenneth Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Breene, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYYAN, SUSAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/151,748
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 707/8, 707/10, 707/201, 707/203
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A method is disclosed for creating and managing metadata for a distributed computing environment while maintaining the integrity of the metadata. The method includes capturing metadata and loading it into a server or servers—either central or distributed. The metadata is secured into a rigorously defined and managed system of record, ensuring that the system of record operates under stringent and well defined rules. The method further ensures that access to the system of record metadata is executed under the discipline of the system of record. The metadata can be loaded into the managing server—either centralized or distributed—in an automated and synchronized manner, resulting in a networked environment where there is integrity of loading, access, and operation.

Claims

1. A system for distributing metadata and ownership of metadata under a system of record within a computer network, said system for distributing metadata and ownership of metadata comprising:

(a) a local server wherein a record of metadata is owned;

(b) a designator attached to the record of metadata, said designator having at least a local state in which the record of metadata is inaccessible to users of the computer network other than direct users of the local server and a sharable state in which the record of metadata may be transported to another server of the computer network;

(c) a remote server connected to the local server through the computer network;

(d) a query signal generated on behalf of the remote server, said query signal causing the record of metadata to be copied over the network to the remote server when the designator is in the sharable state; and

(e) an ownership field associated with the record of metadata which indicates ownership by the local server regardless of where the record of metadata currently resides.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the system forms a continuous definition of metadata by recording dates as part of the system of record.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the dates provide a definition period to create versioning information for the metadata.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein a utility examines the system of record for continuity of time spans.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the designator for the record of metadata further comprises a shared state when the record of metadata resides on the remote server.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the record of metadata is protected from alteration.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises business metadata and excludes system control metadata.

8. A method of maintaining metadata in a distributed computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a unit of metadata comprised of;

(i) a record of ownership,

(ii) a from date and a to date, and

(iii) a designator;

(b) setting the designator to indicate whether the unit of metadata is sharable or locally accessible, when the unit of metadata is sharable, the unit of metadata may be transported among servers of a computer network, when the unit of metadata is locally accessible, the unit of metadata is inaccessible to users of the computer network other than direct users of a local server upon which the unit of metadata resides;

(c) transferring the unit of metadata from the local server to a remote server when the unit of metadata is sharable; and

(d) protecting the unit of metadata against alteration by the remote server using a system of record.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step, after the step of transferring, of indicating that the unit of metadata is shared on the remote server.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising a step, after the step of transferring, of indicating a date on which the unit of metadata was transferred to the remote server.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of creating versioning information for the unit of metadata.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of creating a continuous definition of metadata.

13. The method according to claim 8, wherein the unit of metadata comprises business metadata and excludes system control metadata.

14. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of synchronizing the unit of metadata occurs automatically.

15. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of synchronizing the unit of metadata occurs periodically.

16. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of preventing the transfer of the unit of metadata whenever the designator is other than sharable.

17. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of examining the unit of metadata for inconsistencies in ownership.

18. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of examining the unit of metadata for continuity of time spans.

19. A method of maintaining metadata in a distributed computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a unit of metadata comprised of;

(i) a record of ownership,

(ii) a from date and a to date, and

(iii) a designator;

(b) setting the designator to indicate whether the unit of metadata is sharable or locally accessible, when the unit of metadata is sharable, the unit of metadata may be transported among servers of the distributed computer network, when the unit of metadata is locally accessible, the unit of metadata is inaccessible to users of the distributed computer network other than direct users of a local server upon which the unit of metadata resides;

(c) transferring the unit of metadata from the local server to a remote server when the unit of metadata is sharable;

(d) indicating a date on which the unit of metadata was shared with the remote server,

(e) indicating that the unit of metadata is shared on the remote server;

(f) synchronizing the unit of metadata; and

(g) protecting the unit of metadata against alteration by the remote server using a system of record.

20. A method of maintaining metadata in a distributed computer network, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) creating a unit of metadata comprised of;

(i) a record of ownership,

(ii) a from date and a to date, and

(iii) a designator;

(b) setting the designator to indicate whether the unit of metadata is sharable or locally accessible, when the unit of metadata is sharable, the unit of metadata may be transported among servers of the distributed computer network, when the unit of metadata is locally accessible, the unit of metadata is inaccessible to users of the distributed computer network other than direct users of a local server upon which the unit of metadata resides;

(c) transferring the unit of metadata from the local server to a remote server when the unit of metadata is sharable;

(d) indicating a date on which the unit of metadata was shared with the remote server;

(e) indicating that the unit of metadata is shared on the remote server;

(f) creating versioning information for the unit of metadata

(g) creating a continuous definition of metadata;

(h) synchronizing the unit of metadata; and

(i) protecting the unit of metadata against alteration by the remote server using a system of record.

21. A method of managing and maintaining the integrity of distributed metadata, the method comprising:

a metadata manager running within a distributed metadata environment placing a new unit of metadata stored on a first server of the distributed metadata environment within a system of record, the system of record maintaining a set of rules according to which each of a plurality of units of metadata including the new unit of metadata may be independently accessed and used;

an owner of the system of record establishing accessibility of the new unit of metadata to one or more other servers of the distributed metadata environment via the metadata manager by specifying a state of a designator associated with the new unit of metadata, the designator capable of assuming (a) a local state in which the new unit of metadata is inaccessible to users of the distributed metadata environment other than direct users of the first server, (b) a sharable state in which the new unit of metadata can be transported out of the system of record to a second server of the distributed metadata environment but carries with it a record of ownership and other information about restrictions and/or privileges relating to usage of the new unit of metadata by the second server, and (c) a shared state to which the designator transitions while the new unit of metadata is stored on the second server; and

the metadata manager providing access to the new unit of metadata by users of the distributed metadata environment in accordance with the state of the designator associated with the new unit of metadata and the set of rules.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the metadata manager performing automatic metadata synchronization by periodically comparing the new unit of metadata to a corresponding current unit of metadata at a source from which the new unit of metadata was originated and updating the system of record to include the corresponding current unit of metadata if there is a difference between the new unit of metadata and the corresponding current unit of metadata.

23. The method of claim 21, further comprising prior to said placing a new unit of metadata stored on a first server of the distributed metadata environment within a system of record, the metadata manager verifying that the new unit of metadata does not already belong to another system of record in the distributed metadata environment.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the second server or the one or more other servers that may share the new unit of metadata participate in maintaining the integrity of the new unit of metadata by performing modifications of the new unit of metadata, if any, by way of the first server.

25. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sequences of instructions, the sequences of instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

place a new unit of metadata stored on a first server of a distributed metadata environment within a system of record, the system of record maintaining a set of rules according to which each of a plurality of units of metadata including the new unit of metadata may be independently accessed and used;

establish accessibility of the new unit of metadata to one or more other servers of the distributed metadata environment by specifying a state of a designator associated with the new unit of metadata, the designator capable of assuming (a) a local state in which the new unit of metadata is inaccessible to users of the distributed metadata environment other than direct users of the first server, (b) a sharable state in which the new unit of metadata can be transported out of the system of record to a second server of the distributed metadata environment but carries with it a record of ownership and other information about restrictions and/or privileges relating to usage of the new unit of metadata by the second server, and (c) a shared state to which the designator transitions while the new unit of metadata is stored on the second server; and

provide access to the new unit of metadata by users of the distributed metadata environment in accordance with the state of the designator associated with the new unit of metadata and the set of rules.