Method for coordinating relationships between multiple physical entities
View Patent ↗Two objects are identified. A relationship between the two objects is determined. A contract object is used to represent the relationship between the objects. The contract is useful in many applications: for example, file systems, relational databases, and spreadsheets. The contract can also have rules for processing events occurring to either of the objects related by the contract.
1. A computer-implemented method for using a file system, comprising:
a first storage storing a first file object in the file system;
a first storage storing a first collection object in the file system;
a second storage storing a contract object table and a first contract in the contract object table, the first contract representing a relationship between the first file object and the first collection object, the second storage storing a second contract in the contract object table, the second contract representing a relationship between a second file object in the file system and the first collection object;
a third storage storing a rule table and a first rule in the rule table, the third storage storing a second rule in the rule table;
a computer receiving a first event associated with the first file object, the first collection object, or both;
the computer selecting the first contract in the contract object table responsive to the receiving;
the computer selecting the first rule in the rule table responsive to the receiving and based at least in part on the first contract;
the computer applying the first rule to the first file object, the first collection object, or the first contract;
the computer determining that a second event has occurred to the second file object, the first collection object, or both;
the computer selecting the second contract in the contract object table responsive to the determining;
the computer selecting the second rule in the rule table responsive to the determining and based at least in part on the second contract; and
the computer applying the second rule to at least one of a group consisting of: the second file object, the first collection object, and the second contract.
2. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the first contract comprises a first contract identifier, a locator for the first file object, metadata for the first file object, and a locator for the first collection object.
3. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein a single device comprises at least two of a group consisting of: the first storage, the second storage, and the third storage.
4. A computer-implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising the second storage storing a second contract in the contract object table, the second contract representing a relationship between the first file object and a second collection object in the file system.
5. A computer-implemented method according to claim 4 , further comprising the third storage storing a second rule in the rule table.
6. A computer-implemented method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
the computer determining that a second event has occurred to the first file object, the second collection object, or both;
the computer selecting the second contract in the contract object table responsive to the computer determining;
the computer selecting the second rule in the rule table responsive to the computer determining and based at least in part on the second contract; and
the computer applying the second rule to at least one of a group consisting of: the first file object, the second collection object, and the second contract.