Storage of application specific profiles correlating to document versions

• US 20010047381A1
• Filed: 06/14/2001
• Published: 11/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: CommVault Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwartz, Jeremy A., Prahlad, Anand, McGuigan, James J., Meno, Randy De
• Granted Patent: US 7,434,219 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A computer system that includes a processor for operating a software application in the computer system. The software application provides for creation, storage, and retrieval of a file, the file having a corresponding profile that the software application uses for at least the purpose of preparing the software application to display the file upon its retrieval by the software application. Also included is a plurality of storage media that are communicatively coupled to the processor. A storage management module distributes stored files and their accompanying profiles among the plurality of storage media according to predetermined patterns. One of such predetermined patterns is separate storage of a file and the file'"'"'s corresponding profile.

Claims

1. A computer system comprising:

a processor for operating a software application in the computer system;

the software application providing for creation, storage, and retrieval of a file, the file having a corresponding profile that the software application uses for at least the purpose of preparing the software application to display the file upon its retrieval by the software application;

a plurality of storage media that are communicatively coupled to the processor; and

a storage management module that distributes stored files and their accompanying profiles among the plurality of storage media according to predetermined patterns, one of such predetermined patterns being separate storage of a file and the file'"'"'s corresponding profile.

2. The computer system of

claim 1

-wherein at least one of the plurality of storage media is located locally.

3. The computer system of

claim 1

wherein at least one of the plurality of storage media is located remotely.

4. The computer system of

claim 1

wherein the separate storage by the storage management module is configured to provide more rapid retrieval of the application specific profile than of the file associated with the application specific profile.

5. The computer system of

claim 1

wherein the profiles that are stored among the plurality of storage media comprise different profiles for different versions of a corresponding file.

6. The computer system of

claim 1

wherein the storage management module provides concurrent access of the profile and the file.

7. The computer system of

claim 1

wherein the profile is retrieved prior to the file and sets up the software application in preparation for receipt of the file.

8. An application specific profile storage and retrieval system comprising:

a software application that creates files with corresponding profiles specific to the software application and each of the files that are created, the software application being operable by a processor;

a plurality of storage media that are selectively used by the processor to store the application specific profiles separately from the files; and

a storage management module operable by the processor that manages storage of the application specific profiles and the files such that application specific profiles may be retrieved separately from the corresponding file itself.

9. The application specific profile storage and retrieval system of

claim 8

-wherein at least one of the plurality of storage media is located locally.

10. The application specific profile storage and retrieval system of

claim 8

wherein at least one of the plurality of storage media is located remotely.

11. The application specific profile storage and retrieval system of

claim 8

wherein the separate storage by the storage management module is configured to provide more rapid retrieval of the application specific profile than of the file associated with the application specific profile.

12. The application specific profile storage and retrieval system of

claim 8

wherein the profiles that are stored among the plurality of storage media comprise different profiles for different versions of a corresponding file.

13. The application specific profile storage and retrieval system of

claim 8

wherein the storage management module provides concurrent access of the profile and the file.

14. The application specific profile storage and retrieval system of

claim 8

wherein the profile is retrieved prior to the file and sets up the software application in preparation for receipt of the file.

15. A method for storage and retrieval in a computer system comprising:

creating a file with a software application that creates a corresponding profile that accompanies the file with each access of the file, a new profile being created at least each time the file is saved;

sending the file, with the software application, to a storage management module that manages storage of the file with its accompanying profile;

storing the file and its accompanying profile to separate storage locations in the computer system;

requesting for the retrieval of the file with the software application such that the storage management module retrieves the file with its accompanying profile as though the file and its accompanying profile were located in a single position; and

formatting the software application with the retrieved profile prior to display of the file with the software application.

16. The method of

claim 15

wherein the software application is selected from the group consisting of a word processor, an engineering graphics program, a standard graphics program, and a web browser.

17. The method of

claim 15

wherein a different profile is stored with the storage of each version of the file as the file is created.

18. The method of

claim 15

wherein the storage management module distributes different files and versions of those files in a first set of storage media and stores different profiles for each of the files and version of those files in a second set of storage media.