System for Accessing Distributed Data Cache Channel at Each Network Node to Pass Requests and Data

• US 20100228835A1
• Filed: 10/28/2009
• Published: 09/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1992
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Inventors: Pitts, William Michael
• Application Number:
  US12/607,969
• Publication Number:
  US 20100228835A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0813 with a network or matrix configuration
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/565 Conversion or adaptation of application format or content adding application control or application functional data H04L67/561
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5681 Pre-fetching or pre-delivering data based on network characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5682 Policies or rules for updating, deleting or replacing the stored data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A cache apparatus for a network receives and responds to network file-services-protocol requests from client workstations coupled to the network. The cache apparatus includes a digital memory for storing data transmitted in responding to the network requests. A processing unit executes program instructions. A network interface couples the cache apparatus to the network. The interface includes program instructions, executed by the processing unit, for receiving the requests and transmitting responses thereto. A file-request-service module includes program instructions, executed by the processing unit, for interpreting the requests and generating responses thereto. The file-request-service module also checks the memory for the presence of an image of data specified by the request. When the data is present, the file-request-service module retrieves the data for inclusion in the response. A file-request-generation module includes program instructions, executed by the processing unit, for storing data received from the network and for generating requests for data that the file-request-service module determines to be missing from the memory. The network interface transmits file-request-generation module requests to network.

Claims

1-66. -66. (canceled)

67. A cache apparatus for use in a network wherein said cache apparatus receives network file-services-protocol requests from a plurality of client workstations coupled to said network and responds to said requests, said cache apparatus comprising:

a plurality of Network Distributed Cache (NDC) sites, at least one NDC site being an NDC client terminator site for at least one of said plurality of client workstations, each NDC site being a server terminator site for one dataset of a plurality of datasets, each NDC site including an NDC having;

a storage memory and a cache memory for storing data to be transmitted in responding to said network file-services-protocol requests, said storage memory storing said one dataset;

a network processor that couples said cache apparatus to said network wherein said network processor includes program instructions executed by said processing unit for receiving said network file-services-protocol requests and transmitting responses to said requests;

a file processor including program instructions executed by said file processor for interpreting said network file-services-protocol requests and generating responses to said requests including checking said cache memory to determine if an image of data specified by said request is present, and when said data is present, retrieving said data to be included in said response; and

a storage processor including program instructions executed by said storage processor for storing data requests received from said network and for generating network file-services-protocol requests for data specified in said requests received by said file processor and determined to be missing from said cache memory by said file processor, said storage processor requests being transmitted to said storage memory when said data specified in said requests is in said one dataset and being transmitted to said network by said network interface when said data specified in said requests is not in said one dataset.

68. A cache apparatus for use in a network wherein said cache apparatus receives network file services-protocol requests from a plurality of client workstations coupled to said network and responds to said requests, said cache apparatus comprising:

a storage memory and a cache memory for storing data to be transmitted in responding to said network file-services-protocol requests, said storage memory storing said one dataset;

a network processor that couples said cache apparatus to said network wherein program instructions executed by said network processor receive said network file-services-protocol requests and transmit network file-services-protocol responses to said requests;

a file processor wherein program instructions executed by said file processor in interpreting said network file-services-protocol requests and generating network file-services-protocol responses to said requests, check said cache memory to determine if an image of data specified by said request is present, and when said data is present, retrieving said data to be included in said response; and

a storage processor wherein program instructions executed by said storage processor store data requests received from said network and generate network file-services protocol requests for data;

a. specified in said network file-services-protocol requests received by said storage processor; and

b. determined to be missing from said cache memory by said file-request-service module.

69. A cache apparatus for use in a network wherein said cache apparatus receives network file-services-protocol requests from a plurality of client workstations coupled to said network and responds to said requests, said cache apparatus comprising:

a storage memory for storing a dataset associated with the cache apparatus and a cache memory for storing data from the dataset and other data to be transmitted in responding to said network file-services-protocol requests, said storage memory storing said one dataset;

a network processor that couples said cache apparatus to said network wherein said network processor includes program instructions executed by said processing unit for receiving said network file-services-protocol requests and transmitting responses to said requests;

a file processor including program instructions executed by said file processor for interpreting said network file-services-protocol requests and generating responses to said requests including checking said cache memory to determine if an image of data specified by said request is present, and when said data is present, retrieving said data to be included in said response; and

a storage processor including program instructions executed by said storage processor for storing data requests received from said network and for generating network file-services-protocol requests for data specified in said requests received by said file processor and determined to be missing from said cache memory by said file processor, said storage processor requests being transmitted to said storage memory when said data specified in said requests is in said dataset and being transmitted to said network by said network interface when said data specified in said requests is not in said dataset.