System and method for communicating file system events using a publish-subscribe model

• US 20060041593A1
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veritas Technologies, LLC (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Veritas Operating Corporation (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Premo, Nur, Borthakur, Dhrubajyoti
• Granted Patent: US 7,437,375 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method for communicating file system events using a publish-subscribe model. In one embodiment, the system may include a storage device configured to store data and a file system configured to manage access to the storage device and to store file system content. The file system may be further configured to detect a file system content access event, and in response to detecting the file system content access event, to publish a record of the file system content access event to a publish-subscribe channel accessible by one or more applications.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a storage device configured to store data; and

a file system configured to manage access to said storage device and to store file system content, wherein said file system is further configured to;

detect a file system content access event; and

in response to detecting said file system content access event, publish a record of said file system content access event to a publish-subscribe channel accessible by one or more applications.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a query system configured to evaluate queries formulated in a query language, wherein a given query is associated with said publish-subscribe channel, and wherein said record is published to said publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said file system content access event satisfies said given query.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a plurality of publish-subscribe channels each associated with a respective query, and wherein said record is published to a particular publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said file system content access event satisfies said respective query.

4. The system as recited in claim 2, further comprising a content processor configured to detect a transactional event, wherein said transactional event occurs in response to one or more file system content access events or in response to detecting one or more particular states of file system content, and wherein a transactional event record corresponding to said transactional event is published to said publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said transactional event satisfies said given query.

5. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said query system is further configured to evaluate said given query in response to receiving an indication of said file system content access event, and wherein said record is published to said publish-subscribe channel dependent upon said evaluation.

6. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said query system is further configured to evaluate said given query in response to receiving a channel content request from one of said one or more applications, and wherein said record is published to said publish-subscribe channel dependent upon said evaluation.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein said channel content request includes a timestamp, and wherein said record is published to said publish-subscribe channel dependent upon said record corresponding to an event occurring more recently than a time indicated by said timestamp.

8. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said given query and state associated with said publish-subscribe channel are stored within said query system.

9. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said given query and state associated with said publish-subscribe channel are stored externally to said query system.

10. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein said query language is compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) Query Language (XQuery).

11. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said record is stored in a data format compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

12. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said publish-subscribe channel is compliant with a version of Resource Description Framework (RDF) Site Summary syndication protocol (RSS protocol).

13. A method, comprising:

detecting a file system content access event; and

in response to detecting said file system content access event, publishing a record of said file system content access event to a publish-subscribe channel accessible by one or more applications.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, further comprising evaluating a query associated with said publish-subscribe channel, wherein said query is formulated in a query language, and wherein publishing said record to said publish-subscribe channel occurs in response to determining that said file system content access event satisfies said query.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

detecting a transactional event; and

publishing a transactional event record corresponding to said transactional event to said publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said transactional event satisfies said query;

wherein said transactional event occurs in response to one or more file system content access events or in response to detecting one or more particular states of file system content.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said query language is compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) Query Language (XQuery).

17. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said record is stored in a data format compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

18. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said publish-subscribe channel is compliant with a version of Resource Description Framework (RDF) Site Summary syndication protocol (RSS protocol).

19. A computer-accessible medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to:

detect a file system content access event; and

in response to detecting said file system content access event, publish a record of said file system content access event to a publish-subscribe channel accessible by one or more applications.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein the program instructions are further executable to evaluate a query associated with said publish-subscribe channel, wherein said query is formulated in a query language, and wherein publishing said record to said publish-subscribe channel occurs in response to determining that said file system content access event satisfies said query.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

detect a transactional event; and

publish a transactional event record corresponding to said transactional event to said publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said transactional event satisfies said query;

wherein said transactional event occurs in response to one or more file system content access events or in response to detecting one or more particular states of file system content.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said query language is compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) Query Language (XQuery).

23. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said record is stored in a data format compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

24. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said publish-subscribe channel is compliant with a version of Resource Description Framework (RDF) Site Summary syndication protocol (RSS protocol).