Context-sensitive caching
View Patent ↗A method of caching contextually variant objects in a common cache. The method can include identifying an object type for a requested object and determining whether the requested object has an object type which is specified among an enumerated set of cacheable object types which can be stored in the common cache. Importantly, each cacheable object type can have an associated context. If the requested object has an object type which is specified among the enumerated set of cacheable object types, a cache key can be computed for the requested object using cache key formulation rules for the associated context. Finally, the requested object can be retrieved from the common cache using the formulated cache key. Notably, in one aspect of the invention, the method also can include the step of invalidating individual objects in the common cache according to corresponding cache policies of associated contexts.
1. A context-sensitive caching system comprising:
a common cache;
a common caching engine configured to write cacheable objects to said common cache, said common caching engine being further configured to retrieve cacheable objects stored in said cache;
a shared name generator configured to formulate cache keys for locating said cacheable objects written to said common cache;
a plurality of configuration specifications, each said configuration specification specifying a caching policy for a single context; and,
a plurality of plugable context providers, each said plugable context provider providing said common cachine engine with an interface to corresponding ones of said configuration specifications.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said caching policy comprises:
a specified cacheable object type;
rules for formulating cache keys for objects of said cacheable object type; and,
rules for invalidating objects in said common cache of said cacheable object type.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said cache key formulation rules comprise:
rules for formulating cache keys for individual objects of said cacheable object type; and,
rules for formulating cache keys for groups of said individual objects of said cacheable object type.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein said cache key formulation rules comprise conditional formulation rules specified using logical operators.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each said plugable context provider comprises:
an application configured to provide an interface to said caching policy; and,
a deployment descriptor through which said common caching engine can access said caching policy.