Patent · US Expired

Version management system using plural control fields for synchronizing two versions of files in a multiprocessor system

US4875159A · kind A · utility

310Cited by
9References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 22, 1987
Grant dateOct 17, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 22, 2007

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99954
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In a data processing system that stores a first and second version of a given data set, a method for synchronizing the first and second versions comprises steps of maintaining a sync-complete control field and a sync-in-progress control field in the inode of each of the first and second versions. Write accesses to the versions are modified so that the sync-complete control field and the sync-in-progress control field are cleared in response to any change in the associated version. The sync-complete control bits for the first and second versions are tested, and if either or both are cleared, then the sync-in-progress control field associated with a select source version is set. Next, a copy of the source version is transferred to a temporary file. After the transfer is complete, the sync-in-progress control field in the source version is tested, and if it is set when the temporary version is complete, then the sync-complete control field is set and the sync-in-progress control field is cleared in the source versions. Next, the sync-complete control field is set in the temporary version. Finally, the temporary version is renamed to the other of the first and second versions and the o…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.