Simultaneous updates to the modification time attribute of a shared file in a cluster having a server and client nodes
US5490270A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 16, 1994 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 16, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99952
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A system and method for avoiding serialization on updating the modification time of files in a cluster system. In accordance with the method, the modification time field of a file can be accessed by multiple readers or multiple writers and each client in the cluster system can update their own copy of the modification time. Whenever a client requests to read the modification time, the copies of the modification time are reconciled. The copies of the modification times are also reconciled when a cache flush or synchronization operation forces such reconciliation. The present system and method supports the requirement (of certain operating systems such as UNIX) that an explicit user-issued command to set the modification time is accomplished by granting an exclusive-write mode for the modification field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.