Methods for increasing cache capacity

Abstract

Methods of increasing cache capacity are provided. A method of increasing cache capacity is provided wherein original data are received in a cache with access to one or more variants of the original data being required, but the variants do not reside in the cache. Access is provided to the variants by using one or more delta data operable to be applied against the original data to produce the variants Moreover, a method of reducing cache storage requirements is provided wherein original data and variants of the original data are identified and located within the cache. Further, delta data are produced by noting one or more differences between the original data and the variants, with the variants being purged from the cache. Furthermore, a method of producing derivatives from an original data is provided wherein the original data and variants of the original data are identified. Delta data are produced by recording the difference between each variant and the original data, with the delta data and the original data being retained in the cache.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A method for increasing cache capacity having executable instructions, comprising the steps of: 
 receiving in a cache an original data wherein access is required to one or more variants of the original data while the variants do not reside in the cache; and    providing access to one or more of the variants from the cache by using one or more delta data operable to be applied against the original data to produce the variants of the original data with the deltas residing in the cache.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing concurrent access to the original data residing in the cache to one or more clients.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 locating the variants prior to producing the deltas.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising the steps of: 
 purging the variants once the deltas are produced.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a request from a client for at least one of the variants prior to providing access to the variants.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the variants is a personalized variant customized for a client.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the deltas are smaller in a byte size than the variants.  
     
     
         8 . The method of reducing cache storage requirements having executable instructions, comprising the steps of: 
 identifying an original data in a cache;    locating one or more variants of the original data in the cache;    producing one or more delta data by noting one or more differences between the original data and the variants; and    purging the variants from the cache.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: 
 reproducing the variants by using the deltas against the original data.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of: 
 delivering the variants to one or more clients upon one or more requests.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the steps of: 
 retaining in the cache the original data and the deltas.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , providing simultaneous access to the original data to one or more clients.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the capacity of the cache is increased by purging the variants.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein one or more of the variants is a personalized representation of the original data for one or more clients.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the cache is located on a server.  
     
     
         16 . A method of producing derivatives from an original data having, executable instructions comprising the steps of: 
 identifying an original data residing in a cache;    identifying one or more variants of the original data;    producing one or more delta data by recording the difference between each variant and the original data; and    retaining in the cache the original data and the delta data.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 removing the variants.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the steps of: 
 reproducing the one or more of the variants by applying the delta data against the original data.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising the steps of: 
 delivering one or more of the variants when requested by one or more clients.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of: 
 providing parallel across to the original data and the delta data to one or more clients.