Modified machine architecture with partial memory updating

• US 7,660,960 B2
• Filed: 10/18/2006
• Issued: 02/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Waratek Limited (Waratek Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Waratek Pty Limited
• Inventors: Holt, John Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Bragdon; Reginald G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gu; Shawn X
• Application Number:
  US11/583,958
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 711/165
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/5033 considering data affinity

Abstract

The updating of only some memory locations in a multiple computer environment in which at least one applications program (50) executes simultaneously on a plurality of computers M1, M2. . . . Mn each of which has a local memory, is disclosed. Memory locations (A, B, D, E, X) in said local memory are categorized into two groups. The first group of memory locations (X1, X2, . . . Xn, A1, A2, . . . An) are each accessible by other computers. The second group of memory locations (B, E) are each accessible only by the computer having the local memory including the memory location. Changes to the values of memory locations in the first group only are transmitted to all other computers. A promotion mechanism is disclosed to promote memory locations in the second group into the first group in the event that application program execution means that a memory location in said second group is referred to by a memory location in the first group (ie the first group location now points to the second group location).

Claims

1. A method of selecting independent memory locations to be substantially simultaneously updated in a multiple computer environment having multiple computers in which different portions of at least one application program written to execute on only a single computer are executed substantially simultaneously each on a corresponding different one of said multiple computers, said method comprising the steps of:

(i) selecting a first group of memory locations each of which is replicated on each of said multiple computers,

(ii) ignoring a second group of memory locations each of which is present only in a specific one of said multiple computers in which each memory location of said second group of memory locations is physically located,

(iii) promoting from said second group a memory location to which a memory location in said first group begins to refer,

(iv) replicating said promoted second group memory location in all other ones of said multiple computers other than the specific one in which it was physically located when in said second group,

(v) assigning said replicated promoted second group memory locations to said first group, and

(vi) substantially simultaneously updating said first group memory locations of the other ones of said multiple computers with any changes made to a first group memory location of any one of said multiple computers.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 including the further step of:

(vii) promoting from said second group of memory locations any memory location or locations to which a promoted second group memory location itself refers, whereby a memory location referred to by a promoted memory location inherits the promotion of its referring memory location.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 including the further step of:

(viii) maintaining a table listing said first group of memory locations.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 including the further step of:

(ix) maintaining one said table for all said multiple computers on a further server computer.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 including the further step of:

(x) maintaining multiple said tables one in each of said multiple computers.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said memory locations of said first or second group of memory locations includes an asset, structure or resource.

7. A computer program product comprising a set of program instructions stored in a storage medium and operable to permit a plurality of computers to carry out the method claimed in claim 1.

8. A plurality of computers interconnected via a communications network and operable to ensure carrying out of the method as claimed in claim 1.

9. A single computer adapted to co-operate with at least one other computer in order to carry out the method as claimed in claim 1.

10. A multiple computer system comprising:

a plurality of computers in which different portions of at least one application program written to execute on only a single computer execute substantially simultaneously each on a corresponding different one of said plurality of computers, each of which has an independent local memory and all of which are interconnected by a communications network, wherein memory locations present in all of said local memories are categorized into two groups, a first group of memory locations each of which is replicated on each of said plurality of computers, and a second group of memory locations each of which is present only in a specific one of said computers in which each memory location of said second group of memory locations is physically present, said system further comprising;

memory updating means to update via said communications network any changes made to a memory location of said first group in one computer to all other corresponding memory locations of said plurality of computers, and

promotion means to promote from said second group to said first group any memory location of said second group which, as a result of execution of said at least one application program, is now referred to by a memory location of said first group.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said promotion means includes an inheritance means operable to promote from said second group of memory locations any memory location or locations to which a promoted second group memory location itself refers.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said promotion means includes a table listing said first group of memory locations.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12 having one said table for all said plurality of application program executing computers present in a further server computer.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12 having a plurality of said tables, one in each of said plurality of application program executing computers.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10 wherein said memory locations of said first or second of memory locations include an asset, structure or resource.