Granted Patent B2

US 7,657,517 · App. 11/327,742 · Granted Feb 2, 2010

Abstract

Claims (105)

1. A synchronization file system installed on a server for synchronizing a first user account on the server with a second user account on a client, comprising:

a server sync index (SSI) for the first user account, the SSI identifying the current state of the first user account on the server;

a first directory entry for a file system directory in the first user account, including a first metadata item containing a directory sync index (DSI), the DSI identifying the last change to the file system directory or to an object within the file system directory;

a second directory entry for a file in the first user account, including a second metadata item containing a file sync index (FSI), the FSI identifying the last change to the file; and

means for assigning a server ID (SID) to at least one of the first metadata item for the first directory entry and the second metadata item for the second directory entry.

2. A synchronization file system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for updating the SSI when a change occurs to the first directory entry.

3. A synchronization file system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for storing a change time to the metadata item for the first directory entry.

4. A synchronization file system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for assigning a previous version file ID (PFID) to the second metadata item.

5. A synchronization file system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the second directory entry includes a name; and

the synchronization file system further comprises means for storing an encrypted version of the name in the metadata item for the second directory entry.

6. A synchronization file system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for storing an encrypted version of the file.

7. A synchronization file system according to claim 1 , wherein:

the file includes a message digest array (MDA), the MDA supporting identification of at least a portion of the file that has changed; and

the synchronization file system further comprises means for storing the MDA.

8. A synchronization file system according to claim 7 , wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the MDA with the file.

9. A synchronization file system according to claim 7 , wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the MDA in the second metadata item.

10. A synchronization file system according to claim 1 , further comprising means for generating a server sync data (SSD).

11. A synchronization file system according to claim 10 , wherein the for generating includes means for generating a SSD responsive to a client sync index (CSI), the CSI identifying the current state of the second user account on the client.

12. A synchronization file system installed on a server for synchronizing a first user account on the synchronization file system with a second user account on a client, comprising:

a file system directory in the first user account in the synchronization file system;

a server ID assigned to the file system directory;

a directory sync index (DSI) assigned to the file system directory, the DSI identifying the last change to the file system directory or to an object within the file system directory;

a file in the file system directory of the first user account;

a file sync index (FSI) assigned to the file, the FSI identifying the last change to the file; and

a server sync index (SSI) for the first user account, the SSI identifying the current state of the first user account.

13. A synchronization file system according to claim 12 , further comprising a metadata item for the directory storing the server ID assigned to the file system directory.

14. A synchronization file system according to claim 13 , wherein the metadata item for the file system directory further stores the directory sync index assigned to the file system directory.

15. A synchronization file system according to claim 13 , wherein the metadata item for the file system directory further stores a change time assigned to the file system directory.

16. A synchronization file system according to claim 13 , wherein:

the file system directory includes a name; and

the metadata item for the file system directory further stores an encrypted name assigned to the file system directory.

17. A synchronization file system according to claim 12 , further comprising a second server ID assigned to the file.

18. A synchronization file system according to claim 17 , further comprising a metadata item for the file storing the second server ID assigned to the file and the FSI assigned to the file.

19. A synchronization file system according to claim 18 , wherein the metadata item for the file further stores a previous version file ID (PFID) assigned to the file.

20. A synchronization file system according to claim 18 , wherein the metadata item for the file further stores a change time assigned to the file.

21. A synchronization file system according to claim 18 , wherein:

the file includes a name; and

the metadata item for the file further stores an encrypted name assigned to the file.

22. A synchronization file system according to claim 17 , wherein the file is an encrypted file.

23. A synchronization file system according to claim 17 , further comprising a message digest array (MDA), the MDA supporting identification of at least a portion of the file that has changed.

24. A synchronization file system according to claim 23 , wherein the MDA is stored with the file.

25. A synchronization file system according to claim 23 , wherein the MDA is stored in a metadata item for the file.

26. A synchronization file system according to claim 12 , further comprising a server sync data (SSD).

27. A synchronization file system according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a first metadata item for the file system directory to store the DSI; and

a second metadata item for the file to store the FSI.

28. A method for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first user account on the synchronization file system with a second user account on a client, comprising:

receiving a client sync index (CSI) from the client, the CSI identifying the current state of the second user account on the client;

transmitting a server sync index (SSI) to the client, the SSI identifying the current state of the first user account on the synchronization file system;

using the CSI and the SSI to determine whether the server and client are synchronized; and

if the server and client are not synchronized:

generating a server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI and a directory sync index (DSI), the DSI identifying the last change to a file system directory in the first user account or to an object within the file system directory; and

transmitting the SSD to the client.

29. A method according to claim 28 , further comprising:

receiving a request from the client for a file;

transmitting the file to the client.

30. A method according to claim 29 , wherein:

receiving a request includes receiving a request for a message digest array (MDA) for the file, the MDA supporting identification of at least a portion of the file that has changed and

transmitting the file includes transmitting the MDA to the client.

31. A method according to claim 30 , wherein:

receiving a request includes receiving a request from the client for a block of the file; and

transmitting the file includes transmitting the block of the file to the client.

32. A method according to claim 28 , wherein generating a server sync data (SSD) includes generating the server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI, a directory sync index (DSI), and a file sync index (FSI), the FSI identifying the last change to a file in the first user account.

33. A method for a synchronization file system (SFS) of a server to synchronize a first user account on the synchronization file system with a second user account on a client, comprising:

receiving an instruction from the client to update a first directory entry and a second directory entry;

performing the instruction;

updating a server sync index (SSI), the SSI identifying the current state of the first user account on the synchronization file system;

updating a directory sync index (DSI) for the first directory entry, the DSI identifying the last change to the file system directory on the synchronization file system or to an object within the file system directory;

updating a file sync index (FSI) for the second directory entry, the FSI identifying the last change to the file; and

transmitting the updated SSI, the updated DSI, and the updated FSI to the client.

34. A method according to claim 33 , further comprising the synchronization file system assigning the SSI to a metadata item.

35. A method according to claim 33 , wherein:

receiving an instruction includes receiving a metadata item from the client; and

performing the instruction includes adding the metadata item to a server SFS database.

36. A method according to claim 33 , wherein performing the instruction includes modifying a metadata item.

37. A method according to claim 33 , wherein performing an instruction includes:

creating a third directory in the first directory;

assigning a server ID (SID) to the third directory; and

transmitting the SID for the third directory to the client.

38. A method according to claim 37 , wherein assigning a server ID (SID) to the third directory includes storing the SID in a metadata item for the third directory.

39. A method according to claim 33 , wherein performing an instruction includes:

receiving a file from the client;

adding the file into a server SFS database;

assigning a server ID (SID) to the file; and

transmitting the SID for the file to the client.

40. A method according to claim 39 , wherein receiving a file includes:

copying the file to a temporary file;

receiving a block of the file;

incorporating the block into the temporary copy of the file; and

adding the temporary copy of the file into a server SFS database.

41. Computer-readable media containing a program for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first user account on the synchronization file system with a second user account on a client, comprising:

software for receiving a client sync index (CSI) from the client, the CSI identifying the current state of the second user account on the client;

software for transmitting a server sync index (SSI) to the client, the SSI identifying the current state of the first user account on the synchronization file system;

software for using the CSI and SSI to determine whether the server and client are synchronized; and

if the server and client are not synchronized:

software for generating a server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI and a directory sync index (DSI), the DSI identifying the last change to a file system directory in the first user account or to an object within the file system directory; and

software for transmitting the SSD to the client.

42. Computer-readable media containing a program for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first user account on the synchronization file system with a second user account on a client, comprising:

software for receiving an instruction from the client to update a first directory entry and a second directory entry;

software for performing the instruction;

software for updating a server sync index (SSI), the SSI identifying the current state of the first user account on the synchronization file system;

software for updating a directory sync index (DSI) for the first directory entry, the DSI identifying the last change to the file system directory on the synchronization file system or to an object within the file system directory;

software for updating a file sync index (FSI) for the second directory entry, the FSI identifying the last change to the file; and

software for transmitting the updated SSI, the updated DSI, and the updated FSI to the client.

Assignments (16)