Hybrid system and method for updating remote cache memory with user defined cache update policies

1. A hybrid system for updating cache comprising:

a first computer system coupled to a database accessible by a second computer system, said second computer system comprising a cache;

a cache update controller for concurrently implementing a user defined cache update policy comprising both notification based cache updates and periodic based cache updates wherein said cache updates enforce data coherency between said database and said cache; and

a graphical user interface for selecting between said notification based cache updates and said periodic based cache updates.

2. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said first computer system is a data store.

3. A system as described in claim 2 wherein said second computer system is a remote content server.

4. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said cache stores a user policy utilized for enforcing access to resources on a web server.

5. A system as described in claim 4 wherein said user policy enforces access to information on a web server.

6. A system as described in claim 1 where said cache updates are application specific.

7. A system as described in claim 1 wherein said cache updates are user specific.

8. A hybrid method for updating a cache in a network environment comprising:

accessing data from a remote database;

storing said data in said cache;

determining a user specified cache update policy associated with said data wherein a periodic based cache update method or a notification based cache update method can be specified;

executing said cache update policy associated with said data, wherein executing said cache update policy enforces data coherency between said remote database and said cache; and

providing a graphical user interface for selecting between said periodic based cache update policy or said notification based cache update policy.

9. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said remote database is on a directory server.

10. A method as described in claim 8 wherein said cache update policy is application specific.

11. A method as described in claim 8 wherein a notification based cache update policy is specified for sensitive data.

12. A method as described in claim 8 wherein a periodic based cache update policy is selected for non-sensitive data.

13. In a server system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus, a computer readable medium comprising instruction that when executed implement a hybrid method of updating a cache said method comprising:

accessing data from a remote database;

storing said data in a cache;

determining a user specified cache update policy associated with said data;

implementing said user specified cache update policy associated with said data wherein said user specified cache update policy comprises a periodic based cache update policy or a notification based cache update policy, and wherein implementing said user specified cache update policy enforces data coherency between said remote database and said cache;

searching a data entry for a predefined trust period;

waiting said trust period; and

clearing said data entry from a cache.

14. A computer readable medium as described in claim 13 wherein said remote database is on a directory server.

15. A computer readable medium as described in claim 13 wherein said cache update policy is application specific.

16. A computer readable medium as described in claim 13 wherein said notification based cache update policy is defined for sensitive data.

17. In a server system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus, a computer readable medium comprising instruction that when executed implement a hybrid method of updating a cache said method comprising:

accessing data from a remote database;

storing said data in a cache;

determining a user specified cache update policy associated with said data;

implementing said user specified cache update policy associated with said data wherein said user specified cache update policy comprises a periodic based cache update policy or a notification based cache update policy;

accessing a remote database for data updates after clearing said cache; and

providing a graphical user interface for selecting between said periodic based cache update policy or said notification based cache update policy.

18. In a server system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus, a computer readable medium comprising instruction that when executed implement a hybrid method of updating a cache said method comprising:

accessing data from a remote database;

storing said data in a cache;

determining a user specified cache update policy associated with said data;

implementing said user specified cache update policy associated with said data wherein said user specified cache update policy comprises a periodic based cache update policy or a notification based cache update policy;

waiting for a notification that data in a cache is inconsistent with data stored on a remote database;

accessing said remote database;

updating a cache to reflect said database;

clearing said cache of inconsistent data; and

providing a graphical user interface for selecting between said periodic based cache update policy or said notification based cache update policy.

19. In a server system comprising a processor coupled to a bus and a memory coupled to said bus, a computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed implement a hybrid method of updating a cache said method comprising:

accessing data from a remote database;

storing said data in a cache;

determining a user specified cache update policy associated with said data;

implementing said user specified cache update policy associated with said data wherein said user specified cache update policy comprises a periodic based cache update policy or a notification based cache update policy; and

providing a graphical user interface for selecting between said periodic based cache update policy or said notification based cache update policy.