System and method for managing authentication and coherency in a storage area network
US6792424B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 23, 1999 |
| Grant date | Sep 14, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 28, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99939
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A data management system for storage area networks (SANs) includes an authentication and directory service that integrates the management of cache coherency and synchronization into an authentication mechanism, referred to herein as a ticket. The data in the system is notionally classified into colors. When a principal computer requests a read or a write access to data of a particular “color”, the service determines whether the principal is authorized for the requested access, and if so, the service issues a ticket to the principal that specifies a data color that the bearer of the ticket is authorized to access using the type of access mechanism specified on the ticket. A hidden “hue” can also be specified on the ticket. The service can variously inform principals to cancel tickets based on color or time of issue and can also variously inform storage devices not to honor tickets of a certain hue or time of issue as appropriate to thereby maintain cache coherency and data consistency.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.