Document sharing in a distributed server system
First Claim
1. A method for providing access to documents stored in a system comprising the steps of:
- utilizing a separate file server located in each different geographic area of coverage, wherein a file server in a first geographic area directly supports users in the first geographic area;
storing the documents in the file servers;
employing a centralized system manager with communication links to the file servers and users, the system manager storing user data and records representing the status and location of each document;
receiving at the system manager a request from a first user to access a first document;
determining by the system manager whether the requested first document is available to be accessed at a first file server that is in the same geographic area as the first user;
in response to the determination that the requested first document is available to be accessed at a first file server that is in the same geographic area as the first user, granting by the system manager permission for the first user to download the first document;
locking the first document to prevent access by other users by the system manager;
upon receipt by the system manager of a message indicating that the first user has finished accessing the first document, unlocking the first document to allow it to be accessed by other users.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Separate file servers are located in different geographic areas to serve users in each area. A centralized system manager with communication links to the file servers and users controls documents stored in the file servers. The system manager must approve each request by a user to download a document from a local file server. If the requested document is not stored at the local file server, the system manager will cause the requested document to be transferred from another file server to the local file server for access by the user. Documents being accessed by users are locked thereby denying access to other users until the current access by another user of the sought document is terminated.
51 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for providing access to documents stored in a system comprising the steps of:
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utilizing a separate file server located in each different geographic area of coverage, wherein a file server in a first geographic area directly supports users in the first geographic area;
storing the documents in the file servers;
employing a centralized system manager with communication links to the file servers and users, the system manager storing user data and records representing the status and location of each document;
receiving at the system manager a request from a first user to access a first document;
determining by the system manager whether the requested first document is available to be accessed at a first file server that is in the same geographic area as the first user;
in response to the determination that the requested first document is available to be accessed at a first file server that is in the same geographic area as the first user, granting by the system manager permission for the first user to download the first document;
locking the first document to prevent access by other users by the system manager;
upon receipt by the system manager of a message indicating that the first user has finished accessing the first document, unlocking the first document to allow it to be accessed by other users. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification