--- loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2006/04/18 20:36:00	1.730
+++ loncom/lonnet/perl/lonnet.pm	2006/04/26 15:47:38	1.732
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network
 # TCP networking package
 #
-# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.730 2006/04/18 20:36:00 www Exp $
+# $Id: lonnet.pm,v 1.732 2006/04/26 15:47:38 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -2600,7 +2600,7 @@ sub restore {
 # ---------------------------------------------------------- Course Description
 
 sub coursedescription {
-    my $courseid=shift;
+    my ($courseid,$args)=@_;
     $courseid=~s/^\///;
     $courseid=~s/\_/\//g;
     my ($cdomain,$cnum)=split(/\//,$courseid);
@@ -2610,7 +2610,27 @@ sub coursedescription {
     # trying and trying and trying to get the course description.
     my %envhash=();
     my %returnhash=();
-    $envhash{'course.'.$normalid.'.last_cache'}=time;
+    
+    my $expiretime=600;
+    if ($env{'request.course.id'} eq $normalid) {
+	$expiretime=120;
+    }
+
+    my $prefix='course.'.$cdomain.'_'.$cnum.'.';
+    if (!$args->{'freshen_cache'}
+	&& ((time-$env{$prefix.'last_cache'}) < $expiretime) ) {
+	foreach my $key (keys(%env)) {
+	    next if ($key !~ /^\Q$prefix\E(.*)/);
+	    my ($setting) = $1;
+	    $returnhash{$setting} = $env{$key};
+	}
+	return %returnhash;
+    }
+
+    # get the data agin
+    if (!$args->{'one_time'}) {
+	$envhash{'course.'.$normalid.'.last_cache'}=time;
+    }
     if ($chome ne 'no_host') {
        %returnhash=&dump('environment',$cdomain,$cnum);
        if (!exists($returnhash{'con_lost'})) {
@@ -2628,7 +2648,9 @@ sub coursedescription {
            $envhash{'course.'.$normalid.'.num'}=$cnum;
        }
     }
-    &appenv(%envhash);
+    if (!$args->{'one_time'}) {
+	&appenv(%envhash);
+    }
     return %returnhash;
 }
 
@@ -3448,7 +3470,7 @@ sub allowed {
 	       my ($cdom,$cnum,$csec)=split(/\//,$courseid);
                my $prefix='course.'.$cdom.'_'.$cnum.'.';
                if ((time-$env{$prefix.'last_cache'})>$expiretime) {
-		   &coursedescription($courseid);
+		   &coursedescription($courseid,{'freshen_cache' => 1});
                }
                if (($env{$prefix.'res.'.$uri.'.lock.sections'}=~/\,\Q$csec\E\,/)
                 || ($env{$prefix.'res.'.$uri.'.lock.sections'} eq 'all')) {