US 5,493,728 A · System and methods for optimized access in a multi-user environment

Abstract

A system of the present invention includes a server connected to one or more workstations or "clients" through a computer network. Methods are provided whereby network data access operations, such as are common in shared data processing, are minimized to only those which are necessary for system operation. In all other instances (i.e., time periods when updating is not needed), a workstation may gain access to the data from a local copy stored in a local buffer, preferably a rapid-access memory of the client. At periodic intervals, a workstation is interrupted for marking its local copy of the data as "invalid"--that is, the copy may be inconsistent with a corresponding version stored on the server. With the next access to the data, the local copy is updated from the version resident on the server. Additional optimization may be added for determining whether the server version has been "touched" (i.e., changed) since last transferred to the local buffer, with the local copy being updated only when such a change has been detected. By maintaining data locally, the penalty incurred with frequent, large data transfers across a network connection is avoided.

Claims23

Dependent claims

In a system comprising a computer network having at least one workstation (client) with a processor and a memory, and said computer network including a server for storing information which may be shared by said at least one workstation, a method for providing access to information stored on said server, said method comprising:

(a) said at least one workstation allocating a buffer in said memory for storing information of interest;
(b) said at least one workstation setting a flag for indicating that information stored in said buffer is invalid;
(c) at a preselected time interval, repeating step (b) for invalidating said buffer by setting said flag, wherein said flag indicates that information in said buffer is invalid at each preselected time interval;
(d) receiving a request for access to said information of interest;
(e) if said flag is set, said computer network transferring information of interest from said server into said memory of said at least one workstation before accessing said information of interest from said buffer;
and
(f) said at least one workstation resetting said flag for indicating that information stored in said buffer is valid.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and methods for optimized access in a multi-user environment

Life of this patent

System and methods for optimized access in a multi-user environment

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23