Abstract: A method and a system efficiently and effectively share array entries among multiple threads of execution in a multiprocessor computer system. The invention comprises a method and an apparatus for array creation, a method and an apparatus for array entry data retrieval, a method and an apparatus for array entry data release, a method and an apparatus for array entry data modification, a method and an apparatus for array entry data modification release, a method and an apparatus for multiple array entry atomic release-and-renew, a method and an apparatus for array destruction, a method and an apparatus for specification of array entry discard strategy, a method and an apparatus for specification of array entry modification update strategy, and finally a method and an apparatus for specification of user-provided array entry data construction method.

Abstract: A method and a system efficiently and effectively share array entries among multiple threads of execution in a multiprocessor computer system. The invention comprises a method and an apparatus for array creation, a method and an apparatus for array entry data retrieval, a method and an apparatus for array entry data release, a method and an apparatus for array entry data modification, a method and an apparatus for array entry data modification release, a method and an apparatus for multiple array entry atomic release-and-renew, a method and an apparatus for array destruction, a method and an apparatus for specification of array entry discard strategy, a method and an apparatus for specification of array entry modification update strategy, and finally a method and an apparatus for specification of user-provided array entry data construction method.

Abstract: A method of updating a computer file from an old file into a new file comprises blocking the new file and the old file into fixed-size blocks, maintaining a window (collection of contiguous blocks) for each file on which lookup preprocessing has been performed, and performing match processing on each new file block in turn (comparing against both the old and new windows) using a key-sampling technique combined with approximate matching. For each new file block, the match information is then optimized for coding efficiency and encoded into a patch file that describes an algorithm for converting the old file into the new file. The patch file application method and apparatus then performs the algorithm described in the patch file. The method uses a fixed amount of random-access memory regardless of the sizes of the two files and uses no temporary mass storage.

Abstract: A computer file update or patch process involves building a Patch File. The existing or original file (the OLD file) and the revised file (the NEW file) are input into a Patch Build program. The differences in the OLD file and the NEW file are determined by the Patch Build program, and this information is output by the Patch Build program as a Patch File. The Patch File is distributed, along with a Patch Apply program, to end users so that the OLD file is efficiently converted to the desired, updated NEW file. The OLD file and the Patch File are input by the end user into the Patch Apply program. The Patch Apply program changes, at the bit level, only the portions of the OLD file required to yield the desired file update. By distributing only the Patch File and Patch Apply program to the end users, the desired file update can be implemented by the end user with maximum operational and economic efficiency.