Michael A Stack

US Patent:

20120331029, Dec 27, 2012

Filed:

Jun 23, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/167365

Inventors:

Michael T. Stack - North Chelmsford MA, US
Arthur J. Beaverson - Boxborough MA, US
Steven Bagby - Lexington MA, US

Assignee:

SimpliVity Corporation - Westborough MA

International Classification:

G06F 15/16

US Classification:

709201

Abstract:

Method and apparatus for replicating data structures over a network in which each data structure is assigned an owner node among a plurality of networked peer nodes. Preferably that owner can be ascertained through information in the data structure. When an update to the data structure is desired by a non-owner, a request to modify the data structure is sent out on the network and when received by the owner, the owner performs the modification. The owner node can then notify the other nodes regarding the update. The method, implemented through a single-writer, multiple-reader paradigm, insures availability, partition tolerance and eventual consistency; it avoids the high overhead costs and single point of failure drawbacks of the prior art centralized management and locking protocols. Administrators can connect to any peer node in the network to manage, monitor and request modifications to a data structure.