Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-06-26
2001-10-16
Black, Thomas (Department: 2171)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304874
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to accessing items stored in distributed storage. It finds particular application in the field of re-usable software units.
It is a known problem that information retrieval from distributed information stores can be difficult. In the case of data accessible over the WorldWide Web area of the Internet, for instance, several different approaches have evolved. For instance, extensive hierarchical directories have been developed and, alternatively, search engines are available which themselves visit sites on the Web and identify relevant pages by matching key word sets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a system for accessing units of data or software in distributed storage, the system comprising:
(i) a warehousing database with an input for descriptive data sets related to individual units of data or software stored in the distributed storage;
(ii) a set of indexes for containing respective lists of data sets selected from the data sets which have been input to the database;
(iii) browsing means for browsing the indexes; and
(iv) control means for controlling the contents of the set of indexes;
wherein each index has associated with it a data store to which selected data sets can be copied when input to the warehousing database and wherein each descriptive data set has associated with it an address data field, the system further comprising means to read the address data field associated with each descriptive data set, on input of the data set to the warehousing database, and means to route a copy of the data set to the data store(s) identified by the contents of said address data field.
Preferably, although all the indexes can be browsed by the browsing means, the control means is segregated into multiple control means, each control means having control of the contents of one or more indexes allocated from the set of indexes, independently of other indexes of the set. Each control means may then have access to the data store(s) associated with its respective index(es), but is barred from accessing others of the data stores.
Preferably, each control means provides control over the contents of its allocated indexes by transfer of one or more selected data sets from the associated temporary data store into the index.
Embodiments of the present invention offer a way of managing and accessing data, or software, which is particularly suited to the re-use of units of software, for instance in the building of standardlised strategic architectures. For instance, the units of software might be modules for building operating support systems in a telecommunications environment. The units of data or software might include designs, requirements, test scripts and code developed by any of a plurality of different entities, either belonging to the same overall body, such as one company, or belonging to several different overall bodies, such as partners in collaboration.
The idea of the re-use of modules of software is known but the realities of developing the re-usable software and subsequently re-using it have presented both technical and non-technical challenges. There have been initiatives in the past which have tried to overcome the problems, for instance by building libraries. These have not, however, been successful. As soon as the library becomes large, locating information or software modules again becomes a problem.
Embodiments of the present invention can provide flexibility and scaleability in a distributed “library” while maintaining simple access capability. It provides a physical framework for a “shopping mall” approach in which the prospective re-user does not browse the main repository, the warehousing database, but browses indexes whose contents are individually controlled by brokers, or “Shopkeepers”. By building in segregational control over the contents of the indexes, each index can be allocated to a “Shopkeeper” who uses the index in the manner of a shop window, to show data sets of a common type. For instance, one index may cover software units in a particular language while another relates to billing functionality.
The addition of an address data field to each descriptive data set allows the supplier (“Submitter”) of the unit of software or data which is to go into the warehousing database to alert the shopkeepers controlling the indexes they think most relevant and to give those shopkeepers the immediate means to load data sets to their particular index. This is done by the provision of the data stores associated with each index, which data store can be viewed by the shopkeeper but not by the means for browsing the indexes, and therefore not by the searchers. By using the address data field, the Submitter ensures their descriptive data set will be copied into the data store for the index(es) they think most relevant. It is this which alerts the shopkeeper and enables loading of the data set to the index.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5606693 (1997-02-01), Nielson et al.
patent: 5659746 (1997-08-01), Bankert et al.
patent: 5717914 (1998-02-01), Husick et al.
patent: 5724575 (1998-03-01), Hoover et al.
patent: 5787295 (1998-07-01), Nakao
patent: 5799184 (1998-08-01), Fulton et al.
patent: 5806065 (1998-09-01), Lomet
patent: 5826261 (1998-10-01), Spencer
patent: 5845305 (1998-12-01), Kujiraoka
patent: 5852821 (1998-12-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5924090 (1999-07-01), Krellenstein
patent: 07 028846 (1995-01-01), None
patent: 07 085102 (1995-03-01), None
patent: 08 139747 (1996-05-01), None
Wade et al “Single logical view over enterprise-wide distributed databases”, ACM 1993, pp. 441-444.*
Krishna et al “Distributed indices for accessing distributed data”, IEEE 1993, pp. 199-207.*
McLeod et al “The design and experimental evaluation of an information discovery mechanism for networks of autonomous database systems”, IEEE 1995, pp. 15-24.*
De Vries, “No time to WAISt, bringing local library friendliness to the Internet”, 61stIFLA General Conference, Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 20-25, 1995, vol. 30, No. 1, INSPEL, 1996, Tech, Univ. Berlin for INSPEL, Germany, pp. 52-56.
Corley Stephen Leslie
Hayes Edward John Percival
Reed Jonathan William
Shortland Richard John
Whittle Benjamin Roy
Black Thomas
British Telecommunications public limited company
Le Uyen
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
LandOfFree
Access system for distributed storage does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Access system for distributed storage, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Access system for distributed storage will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2613279