Patent ID: 6970872

Claim:
A computer implemented method for obtaining, at a first node of a plurality of nodes, a resource that does not currently reside in a cache associated with the first node, the method comprising the steps of: sending a request for permission to access the resource; before receiving a response to the request, initiating an operation to retrieve the resource into the first node; receiving the response to the request, said response indicating whether or not the first node has permission to access the resource; after receiving the response, determining whether the operation results in a correct version of the resource being retrieved into the first node; receiving within the first node, a returned resource in response to the operation; and determining whether the first node can use the returned resource which was retrieved into the first node by the operation, based on (a) whether the operation resulted in the correct version and (b) whether the response indicates that the first node has permission to access the resource.