Method and system for automatically updating the version of a set of files stored on content servers

• US 7,707,182 B1
• Filed: 11/21/2005
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: F5 Networks, Inc. (F5 Incorporated)
• Inventors: Saether, Christian D., Kearny, Ryan C., Kee, Thomas E., DeCaprio, Donald Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Hosain T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang; Jieying
• Application Number:
  US11/284,305
• Time in Patent Office: 1,618 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/203, 709/203, 709/223, 715/229
• US Class Current: 707/638
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99944 Object-oriented database structure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A system and computer implementable method for updating content on servers coupled to a network. The method includes updating an origin server with a version of files used to provide content, retrieving data that indicates an action to be performed on one or more cache servers in conjunction with updating the origin server, and performing the action to update entries in the one or more cache servers. Each entry in each cache server is associated with a subset of the content on the origin server and may include an expiration field and/or a time to live field. An example of a subset of content to which a cache entry may be associated is a Web page. Cache servers are not required to poll origin servers to determine whether new content is available. Cache servers may be pre-populated using push or pull techniques.

Claims

1. A system for updating content on a network, comprising:

an origin server configured to provide access to content in response to a request;

a cache server configured to receive each request and determine whether the request is for a first content associated with an entry on the cache server, and if the request is for the first content that is unavailable on the cache server, employing the request to access the first content with the origin server; and

another server configured to;

update the first content on the origin server, wherein updating the first content on the origin server comprises distributing a version of first content from the other server to the origin server;

enable the cache server to query the origin server for the first content if the first content is indicated as unexpired at the cache server;

send a message to the cache server in response to updating the first content on the origin server, wherein the message from the other server includes a command to expire at least one entry in the cache server related with the first content;

based on sending the command, automatically push the updated first content to the cache server prior to a request for the updated version of the file;

taking off-line at least one of a plurality of origin servers with a second content that corresponds to content on at least one of the plurality of origin servers that remains on-line, and updating the second content on each off-line origin server with a third content; and

if the second content is updated with the third content on each off-line origin server, bringing each off-line origin server with the updated third content back on-line and automatically updating content on the cache server that corresponds to the third content on each origin server that is brought back on-line.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the other server pre-populates an updated version of a file on the cache server prior to a request for the updated version of the file by receiving a request for the updated version of the file from the cache server.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the other server performs actions, comprising:

if a period of time passes, automatically expiring a time field associated with at least a portion of the first content on the cache server; and

automatically updating each entry for a version of each file associated with the expired first content with a current version of each file from the origin server.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the other server automatically updates each version of each file associated with the expired first content on the cache server with a current version of each file from the other server.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the other server performs actions comprising:

if a period of time passes, automatically expiring a time field associated with all content on the cache server; and

automatically updating each entry for a version of each file associated with the expired content with a current version of each file from the origin server.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the other server performs actions comprising:

in response to a request for content on the cache server, automatically comparing the requested content to corresponding content on the origin server to determine whether the requested content on the cache server is current; and

automatically updating each entry on the cache server associated with the requested content that is determined to be non-current with a current version of each file from the origin server that is associated with the requested content.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command to expire an entry associated with the first content in the cache server.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes a command to pre-populate updated content for each entry on the cache server that is associated with an expired time field.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the message sent to the cache server causes a time field for all entries to expire.

10. A method for updating content on a network, comprising:

at an origin server;

providing access to content associated with the origin server in response to a request;

at a cache server;

receiving each request; and

determining whether the request for a first content is associated with an entry on the cache server, and if the request is for the first content that is unavailable on the cache server, employing the request to access the first content with the origin server; and

at another server;

updating the first content on the origin server;

enabling the cache server to query the origin server for the first content if the first content is available and unexpired at the cache server,

sending a message to the cache server in response to updating the first content on the origin server, wherein the message comprises a command to modify a time field of at least one entry in the cache server;

based on the command, further pushing the updated first content to the cache server before a request for the updated first content is received;

taking off-line at least one of a plurality of origin servers with a second content that corresponds to content on at least one of the plurality of origin servers that remains on-line, and updating the second content on each off-line origin server with a third content; and

if the second content is updated with the third content on each off-line origin server, bringing each off-line origin server with the updated third content back on-line and automatically updating content on the cache server that corresponds to the third content on each origin server that is brought back on-line.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, at the other server:

if a period of time passes, automatically expiring a time field associated with at least a portion of the first content on the cache server; and

automatically updating each entry for a version of each file associated with the expired first content with a current version of each file from the origin server.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising, at the other server:

automatically updating each version of each file associated with the expired first content on the cache server with a current version of each file from the other server.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising, at the other server:

automatically comparing the requested content to corresponding content on the origin server;

determining whether the requested content on the cache server is current; and

automatically updating each entry on the cache server associated with the required content that is determined to be non-current with a current version of each file from the origin server that is associated with the requested content.

14. An apparatus for updating content on a network, comprising:

an origin server configured to provide access to content in response to a request;

a cache server configured to receive each request and determine whether the request is for a first content associated with an entry on the cache server, and if the request is for the first content that is unavailable on the cache server, employing the request to access the first content with the origin server; and

another server configured to;

update the first content on the origin server;

enable the cache server to determine if the origin server has updated first content if the first content has not expired at the cache server;

send a message to the cache server in response to updating the first content on the origin server, wherein sending a message comprises informing the cache server of expired entries for the first content;

based on sending the message, automatically pushing the updated first content to the cache server prior to a request for the updated first content;

taking off-line at least one of a plurality of origin servers with a second content that corresponds to content on at least one of the plurality of origin servers that remains on-line, and updating the second content on each off-line origin server with a third content; and

if the second content is updated with the third content on each off-line origin server, bringing each off-line origin server with the updated third content back on-line and automatically updating content on the cache server that corresponds to the third content on each origin server that is brought back on-line.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the other server performs actions comprising:

if a period of time passes, automatically expiring a time field associated with all content on the cache server; and

automatically updating each entry for a version of each file associated with the expired content with a current version of each file from the origin server.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the message includes a command to expire an entry associated with the first content in the cache server.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the message sent to the cache server causes a time field for all entries to expire.