Method and system for an atomically updated, central cache memory

A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for an application program to attempt to access data of interest, the method comprising:

• searching for the data of interest in a central cache;
• determining whether the data of interest are found in the central cache;
• if the data of interest are found in the central cache, then accessing the data of interest in the central cache;
• and
• if the data of interest are not found in the central cache, then:
• attempting to access the data of interest elsewhere than in the central cache;
• and
• issuing a request to a cache service routine distinct from the application program asking that the data of interest be added to the central cache.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure for a cache, the cache data structure comprising:

• a first data field containing data representing a header;
• a second data field containing data representing a table of references to a plurality of data elements;
• and
• a third data field containing data representing the plurality of data elements,
• wherein the second data field comprises integer offsets to data elements in the third data field.

A system for storing data in, and for accessing data stored in, a central cache, the system comprising:

• the central cache for storing data;
• a plurality of application programs for attempting to access data of interest in the central cache, and for requesting, if the data of interest are not found in the central cache, that the data of interest be added to the central cache;
• and
• a cache service routine distinct from the application programs for adding the data of interest to the central cache while allowing read access by the application programs to the central cache.