The invention describes a system for detecting partial changes to
data-structures of interest. If an inter-related set of data items are to
be used then it is of value to know that the data items are undergoing
changes, and thus may not be self consistent, and/or have been tampered
with and/or are not the most recent update. The invention uses GUIDS to
track updates by assigning a GUID to a selected set of nodes or items
belonging to an identified set, preferably arranged in a tree structure. A
new GUID is generated whenever an update takes place. Methods are defined
to test that the interrelated data items are valid, i.e., replicated in
toto, by testing for changes in the GUID by traversing the interrelated
data items and comparing GUIDs at each node. Similarly, methods are
provided for generating a new GUID in course of inititiating an update, or
in order to invalidate an intererlated data item set, and additional
methods are envisaged for catering to particular applications such as
assuring integrity of the data by using encryption and certificates.
