Maintaining consistency of database replicas
US6098078A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 23, 1996 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 23, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99954
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for maintaining consistency in databases among data processors of a computer network involves an improved epidemic protocol involving the generation of database version vectors for database replicas. Overhead of the protocol grows linearly with the number of data items being copied during an update propagation, not with the number of data items as in typical epidemic protocols. Since this number is less than the total number of data items in the database, the present protocol promises significant reduction in overhead. A log record is generated including at least the name of the updated data item. The log record has an associated time stamp for the updated data item name in one embodiment or an associated version vector value in another. In the event of out-of-bound copying, an auxiliary log record is maintained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.