System for storing new messages in both full-length and abbreviated versions of message expiration data, and eliminating old, expired messages when a message is retrieved

摘要

A data processing apparatus runs a messaging and queuing software package whereby messages received at the data processing apparatus are stored in a message queue. The apparatus has: a processor; a high storage capacity storage device; and a low storage capacity storage device (e.g., a high-speed cache); the high storage capacity storage device stores full-length expiration data for each message in the message queue; and the low storage capacity storage device stores an abbreviated version of the full-length expiration data for each message in the message queue, the abbreviated version used to quickly and efficiently determine whether a queued message is expired.