System and method for updating a cache
First Claim
1. A computer implemented method, comprising:
- storing data in a cache;
retrieving data from the cache;
generating a random number; and
updating the cache after an amount of time has elapsed, wherein the amount of time is a function of the generated random number.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method designed to reduce network congestion. In one aspect, a system according to the invention includes a server and two or more clients. Each client has software that runs on the client. The software requires data that is stored at the server. Advantageously, the software maintains a cache for storing the required data after the data is retrieved by the software from the server. Once the required data is in a cache, the software need not retrieve the required data from the server; the software can retrieve the required data from the software'"'"'s cache. To ensure that the data that is stored in the cache does not become stale and to avoid network overload, the software updates its cache at a random point in time.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method, comprising:
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storing data in a cache;
retrieving data from the cache;
generating a random number; and
updating the cache after an amount of time has elapsed, wherein the amount of time is a function of the generated random number. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
starting a timer; and
determining whether the timer indicates that an amount of time has elapsed.
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5. The method of claim 1, wherein the act of updating the cache comprises:
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transmitting a request for data to a server;
receiving the requested data from the server; and
storing the data in the cache.
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6. A computer implemented method for updating a cache, comprising:
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determining whether the cache should be updated immediately;
retrieving data from a main storage unit and storing the retrieved data in the cache if it is determined that the cache should be updated immediately; and
retrieving data from the cache, generating a random number, and updating the cache after an amount of time has elapsed, wherein the amount of time is a function of the generated random number, if it is determined that the cache should not be updated immediately. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for launching applications for a user of a workstation, comprising:
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determining a user identifier that identifies the user;
transmitting to a database server the user identifier, wherein the database server retrieves from a database application data that is associated with an application that is associated with the user identifier;
receiving from the database server the application data;
storing the application data in a cache stored on a storage medium to which the workstation has direct access;
generating a random number; and
updating the cache after an amount of time has elapsed, wherein the amount of time is a function of the generated random number. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A system, comprising:
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a data retriever that functions to retrieve data from a cache;
a random number generator that functions to generate random numbers; and
a cache updater that functions to update the cache after an amount of time has elapsed, wherein the amount of time is a function of a random number generated by the random number generator. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
a second data retriever that functions to retrieve data from a main storage unit; and
a means for storing the retrieved data in the cache.
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18. The system of claim 17, wherein the second data retriever comprises:
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a transmitter that transmits data requests over a network to a server; and
a receiver that receives data transmitted from the server in response to a data request.
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19. A computer program product, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
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storing data in a cache;
retrieving data from the cache;
generating a random number; and
updating the cache after an amount of time has elapsed, wherein the amount of time is a function of the generated random number. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer program product for updating a cache, the computer program product being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer instructions for:
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determining whether the cache should be updated immediately;
retrieving data from a main storage unit and storing the retrieved data in the cache if it is determined that the cache should be updated immediately; and
retrieving data from the cache, generating a random number, and updating the cache after an amount of time has elapsed, wherein the amount of time is a function of the generated random number, if it is determined that the cache should not be updated immediately. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification