Optimizing storage in a publish / subscribe environment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465880-B2
Application number	US-201313893813-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2013
Priority date	May 14, 2013
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

Creating message files in a publication subscription computer system by: (i) receiving data corresponding to a first message; (ii) receiving a list of subscribers that subscribe to a topic of the first message; and (iii) creating a digital data file that includes a payload data and a consumption metadata. The payload data includes content data corresponding to the first message. The consumption metadata includes data relating to whether one or more subscribers of the list of subscribers will potentially consume the first message at a later period in time from the time of receiving the content data corresponding to the first message.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of creating machine readable message files in a publication subscription system implemented with a plurality of computers, the method comprising:
receiving data corresponding to a first message;
receiving a list identifying a plurality of subscribers that subscribe to a topic of the first message;
creating a machine readable data file that includes a payload data and a consumption metadata, with: (i) the payload data including content data corresponding to the first message, and (ii) the consumption metadata including data indicating whether each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers has respectively consumed the first message;
storing a master copy of the machine readable data file in a persistent storage database;
each time a subscriber of the plurality of subscribers consumes the first message, updating the consumption metadata to indicate consumption of the first message by the subscriber;
determining that all subscribers of the plurality of subscribers have consumed the first message based on the consumption metadata; and
on condition of a determination that all subscribers have consumed the first message, deleting the master copy of the machine readable data file from the persistent storage database;
wherein
the consumption metadata includes a binary bit to respectively indicate consumption status for each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
subsequent to the creating step, updating the consumption metadata to add or subtract a binary bit to reflect a change in the number of subscribers in the plurality of subscribers.

3. A computer program product used to create machine readable message files in a publication subscription system implemented with a plurality of computers, the product comprising software stored on a software storage device, the software comprising:
first program instructions programmed to receive data corresponding to a first message;
second program instructions programmed to receive a list identifying a plurality of subscribers that subscribe to a topic of the first message;
third program instructions programmed to create a machine readable data file that includes payload data and consumption metadata, with: (i) the payload data including content data corresponding to the first message, and (ii) the consumption metadata including data indicating whether each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers has respectively consumed the first message;
fourth program instructions programmed to store a master copy of the machine readable data file in a persistent storage database;
fifth program instructions programmed to each time a subscriber of the plurality of subscribers consumes the first message, update the consumption metadata to indicate consumption of the first message by the subscriber;
sixth program instructions programmed to determine that all subscribers of the plurality of subscribers have consumed the first message based on the consumption metadata; and
seventh program instructions programmed to on condition of a determination that all subscribers have consumed the first message, delete the master copy of the machine readable data file from the persistent storage database;
wherein:
the third program instructions are further programmed to include a binary bit, in the consumption metadata, to respectively indicate consumption status for each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers.

4. The computer program product of claim 3 wherein the software further comprises:
eighth program instructions programmed to update the consumption metadata to add or subtract a binary bit to reflect a change in the number of subscribers in the plurality of subscribers.

5. A computer system used to make machine readable message files in a publication subscription system, the computer system comprising:
a processor(s) set; and
a software storage device;
wherein:
the processor set is structured, located, connected and programmed to run software stored on the software storage device;
the software comprises:
first program instructions programmed to receive data corresponding to a first message,
second program instructions programmed to receive a list identifying a plurality of subscribers that subscribe to a topic of the first message,
third program instructions programmed to create a machine readable data file that includes payload data and consumption metadata, with: (i) the payload data including content data corresponding to the first message, and (ii) the consumption metadata including data indicating whether each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers has respectively consumed the first message,
fourth program instructions programmed to store a master copy of the machine readable data file in a persistent storage database,
fifth program instructions programmed to each time a subscriber of the plurality of subscribers consumes the first message, update the consumption metadata to indicate consumption of the first message by the subscriber,
sixth program instructions programmed to determine that all subscribers of the plurality of subscribers have consumed the first message based on the consumption metadata, and
seventh program instructions programmed to on condition of a determination that all subscribers have consumed the first message, delete the master copy of the machine readable data file from the persistent storage database,
wherein:
the third program instructions are further programmed to include a binary bit, in the consumption metadata, to respectively indicate consumption status for each subscriber of the plurality of subscribers.

6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein the software further comprises:
eighth program instructions programmed to update the consumption metadata to add or subtract a binary bit to reflect a change in the number of subscribers in the plurality of subscribers.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Gray-Donald Trent A
• Lalgowdar Rajesh
• Thyagaraj Lohitashwa

Classifications

• G06F17/3089 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic

• G06F16/958 Primary

  Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking · CPC title

• H04L51/046

  Interoperability with other network applications or services · CPC title

• G06F16/23

  Updating · CPC title

• H04L51/214

  using selective forwarding · CPC title