Method and apparatus for state tracking of data from multiple observers

A method for accessing a data set comprising:

• comparing a stored data set tracker value with a current data set tracker value;
• determining the stored data set tracker value is the same as the current data set tracker value;
• using a cached result previously calculated by a code as a result for a calculation based on the data set instead of recalculating the result;
• in the event the stored data set tracker value and the current data set tracker value are not the same:
• determining if the current data set tracker is set to a particular value, the particular value indicating only that the data set has been modified;
• in the event the current data set tracker is set to the particular value:
• creating a new data set tracker;
• calculating the result based on the data set;
• and
• caching the result and the new data set tracker;
• and
• in the event the current data set tracker is not set to the particular value:
• assigning the current data set tracker to the cached result;
• calculating the result based on the data set;
• and
• caching the result and the current data set tracker.

A system comprising:

• a system interface;
• and
• a processor coupled to the system interface through a processor bus, the processor to:
• determine whether a current data set tracker is set to a value, the value indicating only that the data set has been modified;
• in the event the data set tracker is set to the value:
• create a new data set tracker;
• calculate a result based on the data set;
• and
• store the result and the new data set tracker;
• in the event the data set tracker is not set to the value:
• compare a cached data set tracker value to the current data set tracker value;
• and
• determine the stored data set tracker value is the same as the current data set tracker value;
• use a cached result previously calculated by a code as the result for a calculation based on the data set instead of recalculating the result;
• and
• in the event the cached data set tracker value and the current data set tracker value are different:
• calculate the result based on the data set and cache the result and the current data set tracker.