US5790848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for data access and update in a shared file environment
Assignee: Enfish Inc
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Filing: 1995-02-03
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Granted: 1998-08-04
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Expires: 2015-02-03
Abstract
Abstract A distributed storage system provides a method and apparatus for storing, retrieving, and sharing data items across multiple physical storage devices that may not always be connected with one another. The distributed storage system of the present invention comprises one or more `partitions` on distinct storage devices, with each partition comprising of a group of associated data files. Partitions can be of various types. Journal partitions may be written to by a user and contain the user's updates to shared files. In the preferred embodiment, journal partitions reside on a storage device associated with a client computer in a client-server architecture. Other types of partitions, library and archive partitions, may reside on storage devices associated with a server computer in a client-server architecture. The files on the journal partitions of the various clients may, at various times, be merged into a file resident within the library partition. If two or more clients attempt to update or alter data related to the same file, the system resolves the conflict between the clients to determine which updates, if any, should be stored in the library partition. The merge operation may occur at various time intervals or be event driven. The archive partition stores files from the library partition.
Inventors
- 👤 Scott Wlaschin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 05:02
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/17; G06F16/176; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/953; Y10S707/959; Y10S707/964; Y10S707/966; Y10S707/967; Y10S707/968; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99938; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 50
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for providing simultaneous access by at least first and second users to a common file on a computer network which has at least one physical storage device, said method comprising the steps of: defining in said at least one physical storage device a common partition for storing common data which is accessible to said first and second users; defining in said at least one physical storage device a first partition for storing first update data representing changes to the common data in first user selected data fields in said common partition without storing unchanged common data, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; providing said first update data to the first partition; and selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the common data in said first user selected data fields with said first update data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for providing simultaneous access by at least first and second users to a common file on a computer network which has at least one physical storage device, said method comprising the steps of: defining in said at least one physical storage device a common partition for storing common data which is accessible to said first and second users; defining in said at least one physical storage device a first partition for storing first update data representing changes to the common data in first user selected data fields in said common partition without storing unchanged common data, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; providing said first update data to the first partition; and selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the common data in said first user selected data fields with said first update data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first and common partitions form a first partition chain in which said first user may access data in the first and common partitions within said first partition chain.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: defining in said at least one physical storage device a second partition for storing second update data representing changes to the common data in second user selected data fields in said common partition, said second update data in said second partition is at least partially inaccessible to said first user; and providing said second update data to the second partition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said second and common partitions form a second partition chain in which said first user may access data in the second and common partitions within said second partition chain.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of selectively merging said second update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the common data in said second user selected data fields with said second update data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said steps of selectively merging said first and second update data comprises the step of consolidating said first update data and second update data to replace the corresponding first and second user selected data fields in said common partition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said consolidating step comprises the step of selecting between conflicting data of said first and second update data in accordance with specified criteria for replacing the common data in said same data field, in the event that the first and second user selected data fields are the same data field in the common partition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the first and second update data comprises changes to the common data in the common partitions in the form of one or more of data addition, data removal, data annotation, data deletion, and data append.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said first and second partitions reside in different physical storage devices in said computer network.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said second update data is provided to said second partition independent of the common partition while leaving said common partition free from changes represented by said second update data prior to said selectively merging step for said second update data.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the common partition comprises a library partition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: defining an archival partition for archiving earlier versions of data of data fields in the common partition; and transferring data to be archived from the common partition to the archival partition.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first partition and said common partition reside in different physical storage devices in said computer network.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said common partition resides in a host storage device in a host computer and said first partition resides in a first storage device in a first computer connected to said host computer in said computer network and operated by said first user to provide said first update data.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the second partition resides in a second storage device in a second computer connected to said host computer in said computer network and operated by said second user to provide said second update data.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said first update data is provided by the user while the different storage devices in said computer network are disconnected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 16 wherein said first update data is provided by the user while said first computer is not logged into said computer network, and said step of selective merging said first update data is undertaken after said first computer is subsequently logged into said computer network.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said common partition is defined in a read-only storage device provided in said computer network.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said read only storage device is a CD-ROM device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first update data is provided to said first partition independent of the common partition while leaving said common partition free from changes represented by said first update data prior to said selectively merging step for said first update data.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said first update data is provided by the user while the first partition is disconnected from the common partition.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
142 words
A storage system for a computer network simultaneously accessible by at least first and second users, comprising: at least one physical storage device, a common partition defined in said at least one physical storage device storing common data which is accessible to said first and second users; a first partition defined in said at least one physical storage device storing first update data provided by said first user representing changes to the common data in first user selected data fields in said common partition without storing unchanged common data, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; and means for selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the common data in said first user selected data fields with said first update data.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
142 words
A storage system for a computer network simultaneously accessible by at least first and second users, comprising: at least one physical storage device, a common partition defined in said at least one physical storage device storing common data which is accessible to said first and second users; a first partition defined in said at least one physical storage device storing first update data provided by said first user representing changes to the common data in first user selected data fields in said common partition without storing unchanged common data, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; and means for selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the common data in said first user selected data fields with said first update data.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said first and common partitions form a first partition chain in which said first user may access data in the first and common partitions within said first partition chain.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
62 words
The system of claim 22 further comprising: a second partition defined in said at least one physical storage device for storing second update data provided by a second user representing changes to the common data in second user selected data fields in said common partition, said second update data in said second partition is at least partially inaccessible to said first user.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 24 wherein said second and common partitions form a second partition chain in which said first user may access data in the second and common partitions within said second partition chain.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
42 words
The system of claim 25 further comprising means for selectively merging said second update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the common data in said second user selected data fields with said second update data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said means for selectively merging said first and second update data comprises means for consolidating said first update data and second update data to replace the corresponding first and second user selected data fields in said common partition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 27 wherein said means for consolidating comprises means for selecting between conflicting data of said first and second update data in accordance with specified criteria for replacing the common data in said same data field, in the event that the first and second user selected data fields are the same data field in the common partition.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 27 wherein the common partition comprises a library partition.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 29 further comprising: an archival partition for archiving earlier versions of data of data fields defined in the common partition; and means for transferring data to be archived from the common partition to the archival partition.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 30 wherein said first partition and said common partition reside in different physical storage devices in said computer network.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 31 wherein said common partition resides in a host storage device in a host computer and said first partition resides in a first storage device in a first computer connected to said host computer in said computer network and operated by said first user to provide said first update data.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 32 wherein the second partition resides in a second storage device in a second computer connected to said host computer in said computer network and operated by said second user to provide said second update data.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 31 wherein said first update data is provided by the user while the different storage devices in said computer network are disconnected.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said first update data is provided by the user while said first computer is not logged into said computer network, and said means for selective merging said first update data is undertaken after said first computer is subsequently logged into said computer network.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said second update data is provided to said second partition independent of the common partition while leaving said common partition free from changes represented by said second update data prior to selectively merging said second update data.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 26 wherein the first and second update data comprises changes to the common data in the common partitions in the form of one or more of data addition, data removal, data annotation, data deletion, and, data append.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 26 wherein said first and second partitions reside in different physical storage devices in said computer network.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said common partition is defined in a read-only storage device provided in said computer network.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 39 wherein said read only storage device is a CD-ROM device.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said first update data is provided to said first partition independent of the common partition while leaving said common partition free from changes represented by said first update data prior to selectively merging said first update data.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 22 wherein said first update data is provided by the user while the first partition is disconnected from the common partition.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for providing simultaneous access by at least first and second users to a common file on a computer network which has at least one physical storage device, said method comprising the steps of: defining in said at least one physical storage device a common partition for storing data fields of said common file which are accessible to said first and second users; defining in said at least one physical storage device a first partition for storing first update data representing changes to first user selected data fields of said common file in said common partition without storing the actual first user selected data fields of said common file, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; providing said first update data to the first partition; and selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the first user selected data fields of said common file with said first update data.
Claim 46
Independent Claim
170 words
A method for providing simultaneous access by at least first and second users to a common file on a computer network which has at least one physical storage device, said method comprising the steps of: defining in said at least one physical storage device a common partition for storing data fields of said common file which are accessible to said first and second users; defining in said at least one physical storage device a first partition for storing first update data representing changes to first user selected data fields of said common file in said common partition without storing the actual first user selected data fields of said common file, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; providing said first update data to the first partition; and selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the first user selected data fields of said common file with said first update data.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as in claim 43 wherein said first partition is structured and configured to store first update data which represents changes in the form one or more of data addition, data removal, data annotation, data deletion, and data append with respect to the first user selected data fields.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for providing simultaneous access by at least first and second users to a common file on a computer network which has at least one physical storage device, said method comprising the steps of: defining in said at least one physical storage device a common partition for storing data fields of said common file which are accessible to said first and second users; defining in said at least one physical storage device a first partition for storing first update data representing changes to first user selected data fields of said common file in said common partition without storing the unchanged data fields of said common file, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; providing said first update data to the first partition; and selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the first user selected data fields of said common file with said first update data.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
167 words
A method for providing simultaneous access by at least first and second users to a common file on a computer network which has at least one physical storage device, said method comprising the steps of: defining in said at least one physical storage device a common partition for storing data fields of said common file which are accessible to said first and second users; defining in said at least one physical storage device a first partition for storing first update data representing changes to first user selected data fields of said common file in said common partition without storing the unchanged data fields of said common file, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user; providing said first update data to the first partition; and selectively merging said first update data into said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the first user selected data fields of said common file with said first update data.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method as in claim 45 wherein said first partition is structured and configured to store first update data which represents changes in the form one or more of data addition, data removal, data annotation, data deletion, and data append with respect to the first user selected data fields.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-08-03 | 2002-02-02 | 2002-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-03 | 2006-02-02 | 2006-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-03 | 2010-02-02 | 2010-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |