Method and apparatus for synchronizing file deletions in computer systems

Claim 1

A method for synchronizing file deletions across similarly configured file-systems in computer systems electronically linked together, wherein said file deletions originate from a source computer to a target computer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the operating system directory of said source computer system to identify files deleted in a source file-system upon said file deletion being initiated in said source computer, wherein a first list of entries of said deleted file is generated from said identified files in said source file-system; (b) propagating said first list from said source file-system on said source computer to said target file-systems on said target computer, wherein said target file-system upon receiving said first list compares file entries in said target file-systems with file entries in said propagated first list; and (c) deleting files identified in said propagated first list having corresponding entries in said target file-system from said target file-system.

Claim 2

A method for synchronizing file deletions across similarly configured file-systems in computer systems electronically linked together, wherein said file deletions originate from a source computer to a target computer, said method comprising the steps of: (a) scanning the operating system directory of said source computer system to identify files deleted in a source file-system upon said file deletion being initiated in said source computer, wherein a first list of entries of said deleted file is generated from said identified files in said source file-system; (b) propagating said first list from said source file-system on said source computer to said target file-systems on said target computer, wherein said target file-system upon receiving said first list compares file entries in said target file-systems with file entries in said propagated first list; and (c) deleting files identified in said propagated first list having corresponding entries in said target file-system from said target file-system.

Claim 5

A method for synchronizing file deletions across similarly configured file-systems in a plurality of computer systems electronically linked together, wherein said file deletions originate from a source computer to a target computer which receives said file deletions, said method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a synchronized database of file entries existing in said source and said target file-systems respectively prior to said file deletions in said source file-system; (b) scanning said source file-system upon an initialization of said file deletion to identify files deleted in said source file-system, wherein a list of file entries of said deleted files is generated, wherein said identification step is reciprocated in said target file system; (c) propagating said identified deleted files list from said source file-system to said target file-system, wherein said propagation step is reciprocated in said target file-system; (d) comparing file entries in said propagated deleted files list with file entries in said target file-system, such that corresponding file entries in said target file-system and said propagated files list are identified; and (e) deleting said corresponding file entries in said propagated deleted files list and in said target file-system from said target file-system.

Claim 6

A method for synchronizing file deletions across similarly configured file-systems in a plurality of computer systems electronically linked together, wherein said file deletions originate from a source computer to a target computer which receives said file deletions, said method comprising the steps of: (a) creating a synchronized database of file entries existing in said source and said target file-systems respectively prior to said file deletions in said source file-system; (b) scanning said source file-system upon an initialization of said file deletion to identify files deleted in said source file-system, wherein a list of file entries of said deleted files is generated, wherein said identification step is reciprocated in said target file system; (c) propagating said identified deleted files list from said source file-system to said target file-system, wherein said propagation step is reciprocated in said target file-system; (d) comparing file entries in said propagated deleted files list with file entries in said target file-system, such that corresponding file entries in said target file-system and said propagated files list are identified; and (e) deleting said corresponding file entries in said propagated deleted files list and in said target file-system from said target file-system.

Claim 13

An apparatus for synchronizing file deletion across similarly configured file-systems in a plurality of computer systems, wherein said computer systems are electronically linked, said apparatus comprising: an activating means for activating said file deletions in said computer systems; an identifying means for identifying files deleted in said source file-system, wherein a list of said deleted files is created; and a propagating means for propagating said deleted files list from said source file-system to a target file-system, wherein said deleted files list is deleted from said target file-system.

Claim 14

An apparatus for synchronizing file deletion across similarly configured file-systems in a plurality of computer systems, wherein said computer systems are electronically linked, said apparatus comprising: an activating means for activating said file deletions in said computer systems; an identifying means for identifying files deleted in said source file-system, wherein a list of said deleted files is created; and a propagating means for propagating said deleted files list from said source file-system to a target file-system, wherein said deleted files list is deleted from said target file-system.

Claim 17

An apparatus for synchronizing file deletion across similarly configured file-systems in a plurality of computer systems, wherein said computer systems are electronically linked such that said file deletion originates from a source computer and said file deletion is received in a target computer, said apparatus comprising: a database creating means for creating a synchronized database of file entries existing in said file-systems prior to initiating file deletions from said source computer; an identifying means for identifying files deleted from a source file-system, wherein a list of deleted file entries is generated; a propagating means for propagating said list of deleted file entries from said source file-system to a target file-system, wherein said list of deleted file entries is compared with existing file entries in said target file-system such that corresponding file entries in said target file-system are identified; and a file deleting means for deleting said identified corresponding file entries from said target file-system.

Claim 18

An apparatus for synchronizing file deletion across similarly configured file-systems in a plurality of computer systems, wherein said computer systems are electronically linked such that said file deletion originates from a source computer and said file deletion is received in a target computer, said apparatus comprising: a database creating means for creating a synchronized database of file entries existing in said file-systems prior to initiating file deletions from said source computer; an identifying means for identifying files deleted from a source file-system, wherein a list of deleted file entries is generated; a propagating means for propagating said list of deleted file entries from said source file-system to a target file-system, wherein said list of deleted file entries is compared with existing file entries in said target file-system such that corresponding file entries in said target file-system are identified; and a file deleting means for deleting said identified corresponding file entries from said target file-system.