Hybrid system and method for updating remote cache memory

• US 20040054854A1
• Filed: 09/17/2002
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Chakraborty, Krishnendu, Dong, Xuesi, Thiyagaranjan, Pirasenna, Stout, Peter D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,020,750 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 711/141
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0815 Cache consistency protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

A hybrid system and method for updating a cache memory. Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method that concurrently implement multiple cache update policies to keep data in a cache consistent with data stored on a data store. In one embodiment, notification is used for sensitive data and periodic updates incorporating a trust period are used for data that does not require “real time” updates. In one embodiment of the present invention, a system administrator can select the deployment scenario for cache updates based on the specific type of data. In another embodiment, the type of updates can be selected for individual data entries, such as a username or password. Furthermore, in another embodiment, a graphical user interface can be used to select the cache update preferences for a remote content server.

Claims

1. ) A hybrid system for updating cache comprising:

a first computer system coupled to a database accessible by a second computer system, said second computer system comprising a cache; and

a cache update controller for concurrently implementing a user defined cache update policy comprising both notification based cache updates and periodic based cache updates wherein said cache updates enforce data coherency between said database and said cache.

2. ) A system as described in claim 1 wherein said first computer system is a data store.

3. ) A system as described in claim 2 wherein said second computer system is a remote content server.

4. ) A system as described in claim 1 further comprising a graphical interface for selecting between said notification based cache updates and said periodic based cache updates.

5. ) A system as described in claim 1 wherein said cache stores a user policy utilized for enforcing access to resources on a web server.

6. ) A system as described in claim 1 wherein said cache updates are application specific.

7. ) A system as described in claim 1 wherein said cache updates are user specific.

8. ) A system as described in claim 5 wherein said user policy enforces access to information on a web server.

9. ) A hybrid method for updating a cache in a network environment comprising:

accessing data from a remote database;

storing said data in said cache;

determining a user specified cache update policy associated with said data wherein a periodic based cache update method or a notification based cache update method can be specified; and

executing said cache update policy associated with said data.

10. ) A method as described in claim 9 wherein said remote database is on a directory server.

11. ) A method as described in claim 9 wherein said cache update policy is application specific.

12. ) A method as described in claim 9 wherein a notification based cache update policy is specified for sensitive data.

13. ) A method as described in claim 9 wherein a periodic based cache update policy is selected for non-sensitive data.

14. ) In a server system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus, a computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed implement a hybrid method of updating a cache said method comprising:

accessing data from a remote database;

storing said data in a cache;

determining a user specified cache update policy associated with said data; and

implementing said user specified cache update policy associated with said data wherein said user specified cache update policy comprises a periodic based cache update policy or a notification based cache update policy.

15. ) A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 wherein said remote database is on a directory server.

16. ) A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 wherein said cache update policy is application specific.

17. ) A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 wherein said method further comprises accessing a remote database for data updates after clearing said cache.

18. ) A computer readable medium as described in claim 19 further comprising:

searching a data entry for a predefined trust period;

waiting said trust period; and

clearing said data entry from a cache.

19. ) A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 further comprising:

waiting for a notification that data in a cache is inconsistent with data stored on a remote database;

accessing said remote database;

updating a cache to reflect said database; and

clearing said cache of inconsistent data.

20. ) A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 wherein said notification based cache update policy is defined for sensitive data.

21. ) A computer readable medium as described in claim 14 wherein said method further comprises providing a graphical user interface for selecting between said periodic based cache update policy or said notification based cache update policy.