Object-oriented cache management system and method

• US 6,611,898 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2001
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NetCracker Technology Corporation (NEC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Convergys Customer Management Group Incorporated (Convergys Corporation)
• Inventors: Slattery, Doug, Jump, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, T. V.
• Application Number:
  US09/841,890
• Time in Patent Office: 853 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/6, 707/103.R, 717/108, 717/140, 717/165, 711/118, 711/113, 711/123
• US Class Current: 711/118
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0253 Garbage collection, i.e. reclamation of unreferenced memory
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/084 with a shared cache
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure

Abstract

The present invention is directed toward a system and method for caching data for multiple processes. The system utilizes a data storage device, and has at least one process adapted to utilize data stored in that data storage device. A component is used, which includes a basic set of instructions for creating and utilizing a memory map file in the data storage device. The memory map file stores data used by the process. A caching object is then built with the component. The caching object generates and manages the caching of data for the process in the memory map file. Also included in the present invention is a method for adding data caching ability to a process.

Claims

1. A system for cache management for multiple processes, said system comprising:

(a) a data storage device;

(b) a process adapted to utilize data stored in said data storage device;

(c) a component, said component comprising a basic set of instructions for creating and utilizing a memory map file in said data storage device, said memory map file adapted to store data used by said process; and

(d) a caching object built on said component, said caching object adapted to generate and manage the caching of data for said process in said memory map file.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein said caching object is adapted to maintain multiple cache instances in said memory map file.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein said process has a virtual address space mapped to said memory map file by said caching object.

4. A system according to claim 1 additionally comprising a free space manager adapted to allow for collection of garbage data.

5. A system according to claim 1 wherein said component comprises a data dictionary and semantics.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein said component is adapted to generate said caching object.

7. A method for adding data caching ability to a process, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a caching component, said component comprising a basic set of instructions for creating and utilizing a memory map file for data storage;

(b) using said component to generate a process-specific object, said process-specific object adapted to allow a process to use said memory map file for caching;

(c) adding said process-specific object to said process; and

(d) compiling said process and said process-specific object into an application.

8. A method according to claim 7 additionally comprising the step of adding semantics appropriate to said process to said caching component in order to generate said process-specific object.

9. A method according to claim 7 additionally comprising the step of adding a data dictionary appropriate to said process to said caching component in order to generate said process-specific object.

10. A method according to claim 7 wherein said application is selected from the group consisting of real-time rating, call routing, customer billing, caller ID accounting, cost calculating, and process routing applications.

11. A method for caching data, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) generating a process-specific object from a caching component, said caching component comprising a basic set of instructions for creating and utilizing a memory map file for data storage, said process-specific object adapted to allow a process to use said memory map file for caching;

(b) adding said process-specific object to said process, said process requiring the use of a memory cache; and

(c) managing data storage and retrieval from said memory map file for said process using said process-specific object.

12. A method according to claim 11 additionally comprising the step of mapping a virtual space of said process to said memory map file.

13. A method according to claim 11 additionally comprising the step of generating a free space manager adapted to allow for collection of garbage data.

14. A method according to claim 11 wherein said caching component comprises a data dictionary and semantics.

15. A system for cache management comprising:

(a) a root object adapted to map file contents to a process address space to create a memory mapped file;

(b) a store object adapted to manage access to said memory mapped file;

(c) a storeable object stored in said memory mapped file, said storeable object adapted to manage the address space of said store object;

(d) a core container object comprising at least one hash object, said hash object comprising a bucket object, said bucket object comprising an array object, said array object comprising a data offset for an array of offsets; and

(e) a stored object in said memory mapped file, said stored object accessible in accordance with said offsets in said array located in accordance with said data offset in said array object, an array offset in said bucket object, and a hash value in said hash object.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a version number for said store object.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said store object is adapted to request loading of said stored object in accordance with an event.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said store object is updated in accordance with external events.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said external events are business events.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein stored object is adapted to hold data for applications selected from the group consisting of real-time rating, call routing, customer billing, caller ID accounting, cost calculating, and process routing applications.