Patent · US Expired

Externally managed file versions

US7533133B1 · kind B1 · utility

20Cited by
4References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 2004
Grant dateMay 12, 2009
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 10, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99954
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method and system for externally managed file versions. In shared storage environments file versions may be managed utilizing sparse data objects in storage devices. A file version may comprise a chain of one or more sparse data objects, where each object may represent changes compared to the data in other objects of the chain. New, empty sparse data objects may be attached to existing object chains to create new file versions. When providing file version metadata, a metadata server may provide information for the entire object chain. Write permission may be granted only for the front-most object in a chain, while all other objects in the chain may be write-protected. A storage device may expose the presence of holes in sparse data objects to help locate information in the object chain.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.