Network intermediate node cache serving as proxy to client node to request missing data from server
First Claim
1. A network-infrastructure cache for providing proxy services to a plurality of client workstations concurrently requesting access to data stored on a server;
- the client workstations and the server being interconnected by a network via which client workstations may transmit network-file-services-protocol requests to the server, and via which the server transmits network-file-services-protocol responses to requesting client workstations;
the network-infrastructure cache comprising;
a network interface that connects to the network for providing a hardware and software interface to the network through which the network-infrastructure cache receives and responds to network-file-services-protocol requests from client workstations for data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services;
a file-request service-module for receiving via said network interface network-file-services-protocol requests transmitted by the client workstations for data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services, and for transmitting to client workstations via said network interface network-file-services-protocol responses to the network-file-services-protocol requests;
a cache from which said file-request service-module retrieves data that is included in the network-file-services-protocol responses that said file-request service-module transmits to the client workstations; and
a file-request generation-module for transmitting to the server via said network interface network-file-services-protocol requests for data specified in network-file-services-protocol requests received by said file-request service-module that is missing from said cache, for receiving from the server network-file-services-protocol responses that include data missing from said cache, and for transmitting such missing data to said cache for storage therein.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A digital computer network includes a network-infrastructure cache that provides proxy services to a plurality of client workstations concurrently requesting access to data stored on a server. A network interconnecting the workstations and the server carries requests for data to the server, and responses thereto back to requesting client workstations. The network-infrastructure cache receives and responds to requests from the client workstations for access to data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services. A cache in the network-infrastructure cache stores data for inclusion in responses. If the cache lacks data needed for a response, then the network-infrastructure cache forwards a request for the missing data onto the server, and receives data responsive thereto. In one embodiment the network-infrastructure cache converts requests received from clients in a first protocol into requests in a second protocol for transmission to the server, and conversely.
551 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A network-infrastructure cache for providing proxy services to a plurality of client workstations concurrently requesting access to data stored on a server;
- the client workstations and the server being interconnected by a network via which client workstations may transmit network-file-services-protocol requests to the server, and via which the server transmits network-file-services-protocol responses to requesting client workstations;
the network-infrastructure cache comprising;a network interface that connects to the network for providing a hardware and software interface to the network through which the network-infrastructure cache receives and responds to network-file-services-protocol requests from client workstations for data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services;
a file-request service-module for receiving via said network interface network-file-services-protocol requests transmitted by the client workstations for data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services, and for transmitting to client workstations via said network interface network-file-services-protocol responses to the network-file-services-protocol requests;
a cache from which said file-request service-module retrieves data that is included in the network-file-services-protocol responses that said file-request service-module transmits to the client workstations; and
a file-request generation-module for transmitting to the server via said network interface network-file-services-protocol requests for data specified in network-file-services-protocol requests received by said file-request service-module that is missing from said cache, for receiving from the server network-file-services-protocol responses that include data missing from said cache, and for transmitting such missing data to said cache for storage therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
a Performance-Monitor Module for keeping various statistics that record performance of the network-infrastructure cache; and
an Administration-and-Control Module for accepting and responding to communications specifying an operating configuration for the network-infrastructure cache.
- the client workstations and the server being interconnected by a network via which client workstations may transmit network-file-services-protocol requests to the server, and via which the server transmits network-file-services-protocol responses to requesting client workstations;
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15. The network-infrastructure cache of claim 14 further comprising:
a Name-Declaration Module for informing a network name service that the network-infrastructure cache is to provide proxy services for the server.
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16. The network-infrastructure cache of claim 1 further comprising:
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a Traffic-Monitor module for logging all network-file-services-protocol requests and responses occurring on the network;
a Traffic-Analyzer Module for associating logged network-file-services-protocol responses with logged requests, for determining an average response time between associated network-file-services-protocol requests and network-file-services-protocol responses, and for determining if the server needs assistance; and
a Name-Declaration Module for informing a network name service that the network-infrastructure cache is to provide proxy services for the server that needs assistance.
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17. A protocol-bridging network-infrastructure cache for providing proxy services to a plurality of client workstations concurrently requesting access to data stored on a server;
- the client workstations and the server being interconnected by a network via which client workstations may transmit network-file-services-protocol requests to the server, and via which the server transmits network-file-services-protocol responses to requesting client workstations;
the network-infrastructure cache comprising;A. a network interface that connects to the network for providing a hardware and software interface to the network through which the network-infrastructure cache receives and responds to network-file-services-protocol requests from client workstations for data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services;
B. a file-request service-module for;
1. receiving via said network interface network-file-services-protocol requests that are transmitted by the client workstations for data for which the network-infrastructure cache provides proxy services, and that are expressed in a first network-file-services protocol; and
2. transmitting to client workstations via said network interface in the first network-file-services protocol network-file-services-protocol responses to the network-file-services-protocol requests;
C. a cache from which said file-request service-module retrieves data that is included in the network-file-services-protocol responses that said file-request service-module transmits to the client workstations;
D. a file-request generation-module for;
1. transmitting to the server via said network interface network-file-services-protocol requests expressed in the first network-file-services protocol for data specified in network-file-services-protocol requests received by said file-request service-module that is missing from said cache;
2. receiving in the first network-file-services protocol network-file-services-protocol responses that include data missing from said cache, and 3. transmitting such missing data to said cache for storage therein; and
E. protocol-translation means which;
1. upon detecting that the server to which network-file-services-protocol requests generated by said file-request generation-module are addressed does not respond to network-file-services-protocol requests expressed in the first network-file-services protocol, translates network-file-services-protocol requests expressed in the first network-file-services protocol into network-file-services-protocol requests expressed in a second network-file-services protocol that differs from the first network-file-services protocol and to which the server responds; and
2. upon detecting that network-file-services-protocol responses received from the server directed to the file-request generation-module are expressed in the second network-file-services protocol, translates the network-file-services-protocol responses into network-file-services-protocol responses expressed in the first network-file-services protocol.
- the client workstations and the server being interconnected by a network via which client workstations may transmit network-file-services-protocol requests to the server, and via which the server transmits network-file-services-protocol responses to requesting client workstations;
Specification