Basic Incrementor/Versioning Pattern

gistfile1.php

<?php
function get_object( $force = false ) {
	$cache_key = 'my-object-' . get_incrementor();
	$object = wp_cache_get( $cache_key );

	if ( false === $object ) {
		$object = regenerate_cached_object();
		wp_cache_set( $cache_key, $object, 3600 );
	} 

	return $object;
}

function get_incrementor( $refresh = false ) {
	$incrementor_key = 'my-incrementor';
	$incrementor_value = wp_cache_get( $incrementor_key );

	if ( false === $incrementor_value || true === $refresh ) {
		$incrementor_value = time();
		wp_cache_set( $incrementor_key, $incrementor_value );
	}

	return $incrementor_value;
}