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

• US 7,747,682 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2008
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Ricart, Glenn, Nevarez, Carlos A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Flynn; Nathan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Siddiqi; Mohammad A
• Application Number:
  US12/035,341
• Publication Number:
  US 20090019059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/219, 709226-228, 709/217, 709/201, 707/10
• 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 form multiple name spaces, and cached items can be identified expressly.

Claims

1. A nametag embodied in a distributed computer system, the nametag comprising at least one logical item name field holding a logical item name, at least two corresponding volatile copy item name fields, and at least one corresponding nonvolatile copy item name field.

2. The nametag of claim 1, wherein the item name fields name computational objects.

3. The nametag of claim 1, further comprising a chronological value indicating when at least one value in at least one item name field becomes or became valid.

4. The nametag of claim 1, further comprising a chronological or sequence number value indicating when at least one value in at least one item name field becomes or became invalid.

5. The nametag of claim 1, further comprising at least one flag indicating whether a corresponding item copy identified in an item name field is to be treated as temporarily inaccessible.

6. The nametag of claim 1, further comprising an access control field.

7. The nametag of claim 1, wherein the logical item name does not in itself identify a specific copy of the item.

8. The nametag of claim 1, wherein the nametag is operative to locate a specific copy of an item using only the at least one logical item name.

9. The nametag of claim 1, wherein the nametag is managed by in a name service independent of a client using the name service.

10. The nametag of claim 1, the nametag further comprising at least two logical item name fields.

11. A nametag embodied in a distributed computer system, the nametag comprising at least one logical item name field holding a logical item name, at least one corresponding volatile copy item name field, and at least two corresponding nonvolatile copy item name fields.

12. The nametag of claim 11, wherein the item name fields name computational objects.

13. The nametag of claim 11, further comprising a chronological value indicating when at least one value in at least one item name field becomes or became valid.

14. The nametag of claim 11, further comprising a chronological or sequence number value indicating when at least one value in at least one item name field becomes or became invalid.

15. The nametag of claim 11, further comprising at least one flag indicating whether a corresponding item copy identified in an item name field is to be treated as temporarily inaccessible.

16. The nametag of claim 11, further comprising an access control field.

17. The nametag of claim 11, wherein the logical item name does not in itself identify a specific copy of the item.

18. The nametag of claim 11, wherein the nametag is operative to locate a specific copy of an item using only the at least one logical item name.

19. The nametag of claim 11, wherein the nametag is managed by in a name service independent of a client using the name service.

20. The nametag of claim 11, the nametag further comprising at least two logical item name fields.