Patent ID: 6157925
Filing Date: 2000-12-05
Classification: H04L,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for caching information in a computer network, comprising the computer-implemented steps of:placing at least one tuple in a cache, each tuple containing a component identifier which identifies a cache-enabled component and a corresponding location identifier which identifies a location in the computer network at which the cache-enabled component resides, wherein the placing step places a location identifier that contains a list of network addresses specifying at least one server at which the corresponding cache-enabled component resides and the placing step places a tuple that contains a replica flag, the replica flag distinguishing at least between a master replica used for partitioning and another replica;receiving an access request which identifies a requested component;determining whether the requested component is cache-enabled; andservicing the access request by sending a corresponding request over a network communication link to a server computer if the requested component is not cache-enabled, and servicing the access request by using the cached location identifier if the requested component is cache-enabled,whereby the method reduces network traffic and server queries by first caching and then later referring to location information instead of gathering that information anew for each request.