Multiple storage class distributed nametags for locating items in a distributed computing system

• US 7,359,934 B1
• Filed: 12/19/2002
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Nevarez, Carlos A, Ricart, Glenn
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): SIDDIQI, MOHAMMAD A
• Application Number:
  US10/324,186
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219, 709226-228, 709/217
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/365 Application layer names, e.g. buddy names, unstructured names chosen by a user or home appliance name
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/301 Name conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/457 containing identifiers of data entities on a computer, e.g. file names

Abstract

Methods, signals, devices, and systems are provided for locating and retrieving files, objects, and other items in a network. Nametags are distributed through the network with the items. Each nametag may hold logical names identifying the item, names of the volatile copies of the item, and/or names of nonvolatile copies of the item. Thus, nametags may include names from multiple name spaces, and cached items can be identified expressly.

Claims

1. A method for maintaining named item information in a distributed computing system, the method comprising the steps of:

first identifying a volatile copy of an item by a first item name in a nametag;

second identifying a non-volatile copy of the item by a second item name in the nametag; and

third identifying a third copy of the item by a third item name in the nametag, the third copy of the item being one of a second volatile copy of the item and a second non-volatile copy of the item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein any of the identifying steps identifies a file item.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising listing in the nametag a fourth item name for the file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising listing in the nametag a logical item name which does not in itself identify a specific copy of the item.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of accompanying at least one copy of the item with a nametag copy.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

listing in the nametag a logical item name which does not in itself identify a specific copy of the item; and

resolving the logical name by using the nametag copy to locate at least one copy of the item in response to an application program request.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of synchronizing two nametag copies.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of accompanying at least one copy of the item with a nametag copy.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the accompanying step places the nametag copy in storage associated with at least part of the item copy.

10. A configured computer storage medium having a configuration that represents data and instructions which will cause performance of method steps for maintaining item location information in a distributed computing system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing in a nametag a volatile copy item name field for identifying a volatile copy of an item;

providing in the nametag a nonvolatile copy item name field for identifying a nonvolatile copy of the item;

providing in the nametag an additional item name for identifying one of a second volatile copy of the item and a second nonvolatile copy of the item; and

providing in the nametag a logical item name field containing a logical name of the item, wherein the logical name does not in itself identify a copy of the item.

11. The configured storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises the step of accompanying at least one copy of the item with a nametag copy.

12. The configured storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of resolving the logical name by using the nametag copy to locate at least one copy of the item.

13. The configured storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of merging two nametag copies.

14. A method for maintaining named item information in a distributed computing system, the method comprising the steps of:

first identifying a first non-volatile copy of an item by a first item name in the nametag;

second identifying a second non-volatile copy of the item by a second item name in the nametag;

third identifying a volatile copy of the item by a third item name in a nametag; and

using the nametag to synchronize an update to one of the copies of the item to the other copies of the item.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein using the nametag includes using the nametag to synchronize an update to the volatile copy of the item to the first non-volatile copy of the item and the second non-volatile copy of the item.