Shared database usage in network devices

• US 6,671,699 B1
• Filed: 05/20/2000
• Issued: 12/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ciena Corporation
• Original Assignee: Equipe Communications Corporation
• Inventors: Black, Darryl, Glaser, David, Perry, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYYAN, SUSAN F
• Application Number:
  US09/575,422
• Time in Patent Office: 1,319 Days
• Field of Search: 707/201, 707/203, 707/100, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/006 Identification G06F11/2289 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2209/544 Remote
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/60 Software deployment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4411 Configuring for operating with peripheral devices; Loading of device drivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/544 Buffers; Shared memory; Pipes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for operating a computer system that call for executing a plurality of modular processes, providing a data file for use by the plurality of the processes, and incorporating a view identification within each of the plurality of processes to define data accessible by each process within the data file. The processes can include, for example, two identical processes that are executed simultaneously to access the same data within the data file in accordance with the same incorporated view identification.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer system comprising:

executing a plurality of modular processes;

providing a data file for use by the plurality of processes; and

incorporating a view identification within each of the plurality of processes to define data accessible by each process within the data file,

wherein the plurality of processes include two identical processes, and the method of operating the computer system further comprises;

executing the two identical processes simultaneously, wherein the two identical processes access the same data within the data file in accordance with the same incorporated view identification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data processes include two additional processes having access to different data in said data file.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of processes included two additional processes that are identical except that each of the two additional processes incorporates a different view identification, and the method of operating the computer system further comprises:

executing the two additional processes simultaneously, wherein the two additional processes access different data within the data file in accordance with different incorporated view identifications.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the computer system comprises a network device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data file comprises a metadata file used by the plurality of processes to customize execution behavior of each of the plurality of processes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the data file comprises data stored within a database process.

7. A method of operating a computer system comprising:

executing a plurality of modular processes;

providing a data file for use by the plurality of processes; and

incorporating a view identification within each of the plurality of processes to define data accessible by each process within the data file,

wherein the plurality of processes include an existing process and an upgraded version of the existing process, and the method of operating the computer system further comprises;

executing the upgraded version of an existing process simultaneously with executing the existing process, wherein the upgraded version of the existing process incorporates a first view identification providing access to a first set of data within the data file and the existing process incorporates a second view identification providing access to a second set of data.

8. The method of claim, 7 wherein the first and second sets of data are different.