Patent ID: 7487272
Filing Date: 2009-02-03
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer implementable method for deleting expired data items in an ordered data queue comprising: identifying an ordered data queue configured to sequentially store a plurality of data items on a first-in-first-out basis, wherein each data item comprises content and is associated with an item specific expiry time; maintaining at least one queue specific variable based upon values of the expiry times of the plurality of data items in the ordered data queue; situationally updating a value of the at least one queue specific variable each time a composition of the plurality of data items in the ordered data queue changes; executing an algorithm configured to detect and delete all of the data items in the ordered data queue that have expired, wherein said executing step further comprises: whereby the method reduces resource overhead of expired item processing by not requiring each data item of the ordered queue be checked each time an expiration determination and deletion cycle is performed.