System and method for tracking changes to files in streaming applications

1. A method, comprising:

virtually representing a file associated with a streaming software program on a streaming client;

streaming a segment of the file to the streaming client;

if the size of the file is greater than a writeback threshold:

tracking modifications to the segment of the file at the streaming client;

writing, at the streaming client, tracked modifications to the file into a diff-file, the diff-file residing on the streaming client;

combining, at the streaming client, the segment of the file with the diff-file to create a locally modified virtual file;

virtually representing, on the streaming client, the locally modified virtual file;

if the size of the file is less than the writeback threshold:

downloading a downloadable file having content corresponding to content of the segment of the file;

modifying the downloadable file locally.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising merging overlapping segments of the file.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, at the streaming client, a modify file request; if the file comprises a document file: downloading the document file; modifying the document file according to the modify file request.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving a modify file request; modifying the file according to a diff-file technique and the modify file request if the file is a game file; if the file is a document file: downloading the file and modifying the file according to the modify file request.

5. A method comprising:

opening for modification a segment of a file, the file being associated with a streaming software program and represented virtually on a streaming client;

streaming the segment of the file to the streaming client;

treating the file as a read-only file until a modification is received;

receiving, at the streaming client, a modification to the segment of the file;

if the size of the file is greater than a writeback threshold:

storing the modification in a local file, on the streaming client;

integrating, at the streaming client, the modification into the segment of the file when the file is used, the integrating creating a modified virtual file on the streaming client;

if the size of the file is less than the writeback threshold:

downloading a downloadable file having content corresponding to content of the segment of the file; modifying the downloadable file locally.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising merging overlapping segments of the file.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving, at the streaming client, a modify file request; modifying, at the streaming client, the segment of the file according to a diff-file technique and the modify file request.

8. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving, at the streaming client, a modify file request; if the file comprises a document file: downloading the document file; modifying the downloaded document file according to the modify file request.

9. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: receiving a modify file request; modifying the file according to a diff-file technique and the modify file request if the file is a game file; if the file is a document file: downloading the file and modifying the downloaded file according to the modify file request.

10. A system, comprising:

a remotely stored file associated with a streaming software program represented virtually on a streaming client;

if the size of the remotely stored file is greater than a writeback threshold:

a diff-file, stored on the streaming client in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, that includes local changes to a segment of the remotely stored file, the segment of the remotely stored file streamed to the streaming client;

a diff-file integration engine, including a processor and memory, that, in operation, combines the segment of the remotely stored file with the diff-file to create a locally modified virtual file on the streaming client;

if the size of the remotely stored file is less than the writeback threshold:

a means for downloading a downloadable file having content corresponding to content of the segment of the remotely stored file;

a means for modifying the downloadable file locally.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the diff-file is further used to merge overlapping segments of the remotely stored file.

12. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a means for receiving a modify file request, wherein the diff-file integration engine modifies the segment of the remotely stored file according to a diff-file technique and the modify file request.

13. The system of claim 10 , further comprising:

a means for receiving, at the streaming client, a modify file request;

a means for downloading a document file if the file comprises the document file;

a means for modifying the downloaded document file according to the modify file request.

14. The system of claim 10 , further comprising: memory having a plurality of modules stored therein;

a processor, coupled to the memory, capable of executing the executable modules, wherein the memory includes the remotely stored file, the diff-file, and the diff-file integration engine.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a means for receiving a modify file request, wherein the diff-file integration engine modifies the remotely stored file according to a diff-file technique and the modify file request, if the remotely stored file is a game file.