Method and apparatus for synchronizing dataset object properties with underlying database structures

• US 7,571,197 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2004
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Original Assignee: Unisys Corporation
• Inventors: Hill, Michael J., Reising, Kenneth L., Gretter, Eugene J., Horton, John C., Christensen, Barbara A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vy; Hung T
• Application Number:
  US10/848,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20050262169A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,903 Days
• Field of Search: 707101-103, 707/204, 707/3, 707/203, 707/200, 707 9- 10, 707/4, 726/2, 726/3, 726/4, 395/601, 395/561, 709/219
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/252 between a Database Management System and a front-end application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6227 where protection concerns the structure of data, e.g. records, types, queries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

An apparatus for and method of efficiently accessing shared JavaScript objects within a multi-user environment by reducing the overhead required to maintain object/database property synchronization. A version is associated with each object to indicate whether any particular requested access is associated with the most current properties of the object. Each user has a version list which indicates whether any particular object properties need be updated before access. The version list is maintained in faster and more available memory than the actual object to enhance efficiency.

Claims

1. An apparatus for permitting a plurality of users to manipulate data within a data processing system comprising:

a. an enterprise server containing a data base having a plurality of data objects each representing a physical data base table;

b. a mass storage system having a first access time and a memory having a second access time wherein said second access time is faster than said first access time;

c. a version property associated with one of said plurality of data objects;

d. a terminal having a session which generates a request under control of one of said plurality of said users involving access to said one of said plurality of data objects and permit manipulation of said data;

e. a version list stored within said memory associated with said session having an assumed version property;

f. comparing means responsively coupled to said data base for comparing said assumed version property with said version property; and

g. an update facility which updates said version list from said data base if said comparing means finds said assumed version property does not equal said version property.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said session further comprises a JavaScript object.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein each of said plurality of data objects has a separate version property associated therewith.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said terminal is responsively coupled to said enterprise server containing said data base via a publically accessible digital data communication network.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein each of said version properties is stored within said data base.

6. A method of maintaining synchronization of data within a system data base stored within mass storage permitting one user of a plurality of users to utilize a terminal to access and manipulate a plurality of instances of a given dataset object within an enterprise server comprising:

a. storing a version property within a data base containing said dataset object representing a physical data base table;

b. preparing a version list associated with a session containing an assumed version property wherein said version list is stored within a memory which is faster than said mass storage;

c. requesting access to said dataset object from said session;

d. comparing said assumed version property to said version property; and

e. updating said version list from said data base if said comparing step determines that said assumed version property is not the same as said version property permitting said one user to access and manipulate said system data base.

7. A method according to claim 6 wherein said user session further comprises a JavaScript object.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said version list is stored within a first memory which is faster than a second memory wherein said data base is stored.

9. A method according to claim 8 wherein said requesting step occurs over a publically accessible digital data communication network.

10. A method according to claim 9 wherein said assumed version property is transferred via said publically accessible digital data communication network during said requesting step.

11. An apparatus for providing a user with access to a data processing system for manipulating data stored therein as a data base within mass storage comprising:

a. storing means for storing a dataset and corresponding version property within a data base located within an enterprise server associated with a data base table of said data base;

b. requesting means responsively coupled to said storing means for requesting access to said dataset for said manipulating by said user;

c. maintaining means responsively coupled to said requesting means for maintaining version list containing an assumed version property wherein said maintaining means is a memory which is faster than said mass storage; and

d. comparing means responsively coupled to said storing means for comparing said version property with said assumed version property.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising updating means responsively coupled to said comparing means for updating said version list if said comparing means finds said version property different from said assumed version property.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a publically accessible digital data communication network which couples said requesting means to said storing means.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said storing means further comprises MAPPER data base management system.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said requesting means further comprises an industry standard personal computer

16. An apparatus for permitting a user to manipulate a database comprising:

a. an enterprise server containing mass storage containing a data base having a plurality of data objects wherein each of said plurality of data objects is associated with a physical data base table and has a separate version property associated therewith wherein each of said version properties is stored within said data base;

b. a particular version property associated with a particular one of said plurality of data objects;

c. a JavaScript object session responsively coupled to said data base via a publically accessible digital data communication network which generates a request involving access to manipulate said particular one of said plurality of data objects;

d. a version list associated with said session having an assumed version property wherein said version list is stored in a memory which is faster than said mass storage;

e. comparing means responsively coupled to said data base which compares said assumed version property with said particular version property; and

f. an update facility which updates said version list from said data base if said comparing means finds said assumed version property does not equal said particular version property.