Document shadowing intranet server, memory medium and method

• US 7,426,547 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 09/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Keesey, James Louis, Wilmot, Gerald Johann
• Primary Examiner(s): Vaughn, Jr.; William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bayard; Djenane M
• Application Number:
  US10/631,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20040024837A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,874 Days
• Field of Search: 709/213, 709/219, 709/224, 709/203, 709/229, 709/239, 709/228, 709/201
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9574 of access to content, e.g. by caching

Abstract

An intranet server, memory medium and process for handling requests for resources from a downstream intranet server or a user. The intranet server is configured by a data shadowing program to locally store resources that have a high usage frequency. If a resource has not been requested for a predetermined time out period, it is deleted from local memory. Resources stored in local memory are served in response to requests for them, thus avoiding the service of such resources over the internet each time they are requested. An inquiry procedure handles status requests for new versions in either an active or a passive mode. In the active mode, the intranet server that directly interfaces with the internet periodically checks the status and receives updated versions of resources stored in its local memory. The resources stored in local memory are then served upon request from a user. In the passive mode, status inquiries are sent upstream through the intranet system then via the internet to the web server that serves the resource being requested. The web server returns a revised version only if there is one.

Claims

1. A method of operating an intranet server that handles the requests of one or more downstream intranet servers or users for resources that are served by one or more web servers via an internet to said intranet server, said method comprising:

(a) updating a usage count for each request from said users for a first resource;

(b) obtaining said first resource from one of said web servers that is capable of serving said first resource;

(c) maintaining said first resource in a local memory of said intranet server only if said usage count for the requests is equal to or greater than a threshold count value of three;

(d) wherein the step of maintaining said first resource in a local memory of said intranet server includes the step of responding to the usage count being equal to or greater than the threshold count value to effectuate the maintenance of said first resource in the local memory;

(e) further including the step of serving said first resource to one of said downstream intranet servers or users that is currently requesting said first resource;

(f) maintaining an expiry value for said first resource, and

(g) removing said first resource from said local memory when a time-out period has elapsed for said expiry value without receiving a request for said first resource.

2. The method of operating an intranet server as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

(a) sending an inquiry to said upstream intranet server or to one of said web servers that is capable of serving said first resource, said inquiry identifying said first resource, whether said first resource is stored in said local memory, and the local version status of said first resource if so stored;

(b) receiving a response to said inquiry, said response including a current version status of said first resource, a current version of said first resource if said current version is more recent than said local version, or if said first resource is not stored in said local memory, and

(c) storing said current version of the first resource, when received, in said local memory if said usage count is equal to or greater than said threshold count value.

3. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 1, wherein said first resource is one of a plurality of resources, each of said plurality of resources having a separate usage count and expiry value.

4. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 1, and further comprising:

(a) maintaining a second resource in said local memory without regard for frequency of usage or elapsed time between requests for said second resource, and

(b) wherein said serving means serves said second resource, whenever received as new or revised from an upstream server or an intranet operator, to said downstream intranet server.

5. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 1, further comprising:

(a) periodically querying an upstream server of said first resource to determine if the first resource is no longer current, and

(b) updating said local copy if said first resource is no longer current so as to service further requests for said first resource.

6. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 5, further including serving means for serving said first resource when requested to a downstream intranet server.

7. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 6, further comprising:

(a) maintaining an expiry value for said first resource, and

(b) removing said first resource from said local memory when a time-out period has elapsed for said expiry value without receiving a request for said first resource.

8. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 7, wherein said first resource is one of a plurality of resources, each of said plurality of resources having a separate predefined threshold value and an expiry value.

9. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 8, wherein said means for maintaining a local copy maintains a second resource in said local memory without regard for frequency of usage or elapsed time between requests for said second resource;

and wherein said serving means serves said second resource to each of said downstream intranet servers that is arranged in said intranet to communicate directly with said intranet server.

10. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 9, wherein said second resource is received from an intranet operator.

11. The method of operating an intranet server of claim 10, further comprising means for obtaining from an upstream server said first resource if said first resource is not stored in said memory.