Answering Queries Using Cooperative Semantic Caching

Abstract

Semantic caching is a technique used for optimizing the evaluation of database queries by caching results of previous answered queries at the client side and using the cached results when trying to answer new queries. Before sending a query to the database server, the client first checks, if there are any cached query results that semantically contain the new query or parts of the query. If such cached results are found, they can be used when answering the new query. Otherwise, the query will be answered by the database management server. This paper proposes to extend the general semantic caching mechanism by enabling clients to share their local semantic caches in a cooperative matter. If a particular query cannot be answered using the local cache, the system will verify, if there are other clients, located across the Internet, that are able to answer the query using the data stored in their caches. Such an approach will increase the throughput of database servers, because servers will only receive queries that cannot be answered using the cooperative cache concept.