Content management across shared, mobile file systems

• US 20060080397A1
• Filed: 10/08/2004
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: TrueContext Mobile Solutions Corporation
• Inventors: Haskins, Paul, Yerxa, Barry, Craddock, Julian, Chene, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/213
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/00 Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications user-to-user messaging H04L51/00; network arrangements, protocols or services for supporting real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A content management system and method are disclosed having one or more shared file systems located on one or more networks having a firewall. The content management system includes an explorer client, a mounting client, and a gateway. The gateway is in communication with both the explorer client and the mounting client. The explorer client forms a profile of a user device by determining the characteristics of the user device. The mounting client determines the capabilities of the one or more file systems and where content resides on each of the one or more file systems. The gateway then creates a virtual abstraction layer based on the profile of the user device and the capabilities of the one or more file systems.

Claims

1. A method for managing content across shared file systems located on networks having a firewall, the method comprising the acts of:

determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from one or more of the file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

determining the characteristics of the networks including the current speed, capacity, and type of networks, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

determining the characteristics of the file systems that contain the requested content; and

creating a virtual abstraction layer based on the characteristics of the user device, the networks, and the file systems, the virtual abstraction layer providing the content from the shared file systems to the user device such that the view to the user is the same as if that content was local to the user device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising capturing an authorization structure in the file system on which the requested content resides.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising transparently authorizing the user directly against the file system authorization structure using pass through authorization.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising transparently authorizing the user indirectly against a cached representation of the file system authorization structure.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising transparently authorizing the user indirectly against a virtual authorization structure that overrides the file system authorization structure.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the captured authorization structure is maintained with the content when the content is provided to the user device.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing the ability to add, move, and change the files system authorization structure from the user device.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing the ability to manipulate the content of the file system using all of the existing file system actions.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the existing file system actions include an ability to create new files, an ability to modify existing files, an ability to delete files, and an ability to read files.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the file system actions further include an ability to move files, an ability to duplicate files, an ability to access files, an ability to send and forward files, and an ability to route files.

11. The method of claim 2 further comprising providing the ability to manipulate the structure of the file system using all of the existing file system actions.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the files system actions include an ability to create new folders, an ability to modify existing folders, an ability to delete folders, and an ability to modify the folder hierarchy.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the files system actions further include an ability to duplicate folders, an ability to support nested folders, and an ability to move folders.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the ability, via the virtual abstraction layer, to inform the user on the user device of changes in the file systems on the network.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the ability, via the virtual abstraction layer, to queue content for delivery from the file systems on the networks to the user device.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the ability, via the virtual abstraction layer, to monitor the content the user has on the user device and which file systems on the network the content came from.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the ability, via the virtual abstraction layer, to specify that a user may have several different devices and that different content will be made available to the user depending on the particular device they are using.

18. A method for managing content across an intermittent mobile connection having a firewall, the method comprising the acts of:

managing one or more file systems;

determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from any of the managed file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

determining the characteristics of the intermittent mobile connection including the current speed, capacity, and type of the connection, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

determining the characteristics of any of the managed file systems that contain the requested content, including the characteristics of the content on the file system; and

generating and maintaining a cached representation of the content of the managed file systems, the cached representation being capable of being transparently interacted with by the user on the user device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the cached representation is generated manually in response to a change detected on the any of the managed, remote mounted file systems.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the cached representation is generated automatically in response to a change detected on the any of the managed, remote mounted file systems.

21. A method for managing content across an intermittent mobile connection having a firewall, the method comprising the acts of:

managing one or more file systems;

determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from any of the managed file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

determining the characteristics of the intermittent mobile connection including the current speed, capacity, and type of the connection, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

determining the characteristics of any of the managed file systems that contain the requested content, the characteristics of the file system including an authorization structure and authentication information; and

generating and maintaining a cached representation of the authorization structure and authentication information, the cached representation being capable of authorizing and authenticating the user on the user device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the cached representation is generated manually in response to a change detected on the any of the managed, remote mounted file systems.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the cached representation is generated automatically in response to a change detected on the any of the managed, remote mounted file systems.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the cached representation is capable of authorizing and authentication the user on the user device transparently.

25. The method of claim 21 further comprising the act of creating a virtual abstraction layer based on the characteristics of the user device, the connection, and the managed file systems, the virtual abstraction layer providing the content from the managed file systems to the user device such that the view to the user is the same as if that content was local to the user device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the characteristics of the managed file systems that are determined includes the content of the file systems.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the act of generating and maintaining a cached representation of the content of the managed file systems, the cached representation being capable of being transparently interacted with by the user on the user device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the cached representation of the authorization structure and authentication information is maintained along with the cached representation of the content of the managed file systems that are maintained, such that the user is authorized and authenticated on the user device prior to being allowed to interact with the cached representation of the content.

29. A content management system having one or more shared file systems located on one or more networks having a firewall, the content management system comprising:

an explorer client for forming a profile of a user device, the profile being formed by determining the characteristics of the user device;

a mounting client for determining capabilities of the one or more file systems and where content resides on each of the one or more file systems; and

a gateway for creating a virtual abstraction layer, the gateway is in communication with both the explorer client and the mounting client, the gateway utilizing the profile of the user device and the capabilities of the one or more file systems when creating the virtual abstraction layer.

30. The content management system of claim 29, wherein the mounting client captures an authorization structure and makes it available to the gateway, the gateway being capable of caching the authorization structure.

31. The content management system of claim 30, wherein the authorization structure is communicated from the gateway to the explorer client, the authorization structure being cached by the explorer client along with the content from the one or more file systems.

32. A content management system for devices having an intermittent mobile connection across a firewall, the content management system comprising:

an explorer client for forming a profile of a user device, the profile being formed by determining the characteristics of the user device;

a mounting client for determining capabilities of one or more file systems and a layout of content on the one or more file systems; and

a gateway for generating and maintaining a cached representation of the content of the one or more file systems, the cached representation being generated from the layout of content on the one or more file systems communicated to the gateway by the mounting client.

33. The content management system of claim 32, wherein the cached representation of the content of the one or more file systems is updated when the mounting client communicates a detected change on any of the one or more file systems, the detected change being communicated to the gateway.

34. An article of manufacture for managing content across shared file systems located on networks having a firewall, the article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

a plurality of instructions wherein at least a portion of said plurality of instructions are storable in said computer readable medium, and further wherein said plurality of instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform the steps of;

a) determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from one or more of file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

b) determining the characteristics of the networks including the current speed, capacity, and type of networks, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

c) determining the characteristics of the file systems that contain the requested content; and

d) creating a virtual abstraction layer based on the characteristics of the user device, the networks, and the file systems, the virtual abstraction layer providing the content from the shared file systems to the user device such that the view to the user is the same as if that content was local to the user device.

35. An article of manufacture for managing content across an intermittent mobile connection having a firewall, the article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

a plurality of instructions wherein at least a portion of said plurality of instructions are storable in said computer readable medium, and further wherein said plurality of instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform the steps of;

a) managing one or more file systems;

b) determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from any of the managed file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

c) determining the characteristics of the intermittent mobile connection including the current speed, capacity, and type of the connection, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

d) determining the characteristics of any of the managed file systems that contain the requested content, including the characteristics of the content on the file systems; and

e) generating and maintaining a cached representation of the content of the managed file systems, the cached representation being capable of being transparently interacted with by the user on the user device.

36. An article of manufacture for managing content across an intermittent mobile connection having a firewall, the article of manufacture comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

a plurality of instructions wherein at least a portion of said plurality of instructions are storable in said computer readable medium, and further wherein said plurality of instructions are configured to cause a processor to perform the steps of;

a) managing one or more file system;

b) determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from any of the managed file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

c) determining the characteristics of the intermittent mobile connection including the current speed, capacity, and type of the connection, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

d) determining the characteristics of any of the managed file systems that contain the requested content, the characteristics of the file system including an authorization structure and authentication information; and

e) generating and maintaining a cached representation of the authorization structure and authentication information, the cached representation being capable of authorizing and authenticating the user on the user device.

37. A system for managing content across shared file systems located on networks having a firewall, the system comprising:

a first processor;

a computer readable medium electronically coupled to said first processor; and

a plurality of instructions wherein at least a portion of said plurality of instructions are storable in said computer readable medium, and further wherein said plurality of instructions are configured to cause said first processor to perform the steps of;

a) determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from one or more of file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

b) determining the characteristics of the networks including the current speed, capacity, and type of networks, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

c) determining the characteristics of the file systems that contain the requested content; and

d) creating a virtual abstraction layer based on the characteristics of the user device, the networks, and the file systems, the virtual abstraction layer providing the content from the shared file systems to the user device such that the view to the user is the same as if that content was local to the user device.

38. A system for managing content across an intermittent mobile connection having a firewall, the system comprising:

a first processor;

a computer readable medium electronically coupled to said first processor; and

a plurality of instructions wherein at least a portion of said plurality of instructions are storable in said computer readable medium, and further wherein said plurality of instructions are configured to cause said first processor to perform the steps of;

a) managing one or more file systems;

b) determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from any of the managed file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

c) determining the characteristics of the intermittent mobile connection including the current speed, capacity, and type of the connection, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

d) determining the characteristics of any of the managed file systems that contain the requested content, including the characteristics of the content on the file systems; and

e) generating and maintaining a cached representation of the content of the managed file systems, the cached representation being capable of transparently interacted with by the user on the user device.

39. A system for managing content across an intermittent mobile connection having a firewall, the system comprising:

a first processor;

a computer readable medium electronically coupled to said first processor; and

a plurality of instructions wherein at least a portion of said plurality of instructions are storable in said computer readable medium, and further wherein said plurality of instructions are configured to cause said first processor to perform the steps of;

a) managing one or more file system;

b) determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from any of the managed file systems, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

c) determining the characteristics of the intermittent mobile connection including the current speed, capacity, and type of the connection, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

d) determining the characteristics of any of the managed file systems that contain the requested content, the characteristics of the file system including an authorization structure and authentication information; and

e) generating and maintaining a cached representation of the authorization structure and authentication information, the cached representation being capable of being authorizing and authenticating the user on the user device.

40. A method for managing content across a shared file system located on a network having a firewall, the method comprising the acts of:

determining the characteristics of a user device when a user of the user device requests content from the file system, the characteristics of the user device including the type of device, the amount of RAM and disk space available on the user device, and the operating system utilized by the user device;

determining the network characteristics including the current speed, capacity, and type of the network, as well as any firewall properties or restrictions that might affect transmission;

determining the characteristics of the file system; and

creating a virtual abstraction layer based on the characteristics of the user device, the network, and the file system, the virtual abstraction layer providing the content from the shared file system to the user device such that the view to the user is the same as if that content was local to the user device.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising capturing an authorization structure in the file system.

42. The method of claim 41 further comprising transparently authorizing the user directly against the file system authorization structure using pass through authorization.

43. The method of claim 41 further comprising transparently authorizing the user indirectly against a cached representation of the file system authorization structure.

44. The method of claim 41 further comprising transparently authorizing the user indirectly against a virtual authorization structure that overrides the file system authorization structure.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein the captured authorization structure is maintained with the content when the content is provided to the user device.

46. The method of claim 41 further comprising providing the ability to add, move, and change the files system authorization structure from the user device.

47. The method of claim 41 further comprising providing the ability to manipulate the content of the file system using all of the existing file system actions.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the existing file system actions include an ability to create new files, an ability to modify existing files, an ability to delete files, and an ability to read files.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the file system actions further include an ability to move files, an ability to duplicate files, an ability to access files, an ability to send and forward files, and an ability to route files.

50. The method of claim 41 further comprising providing the ability to manipulate the structure of the file system using all of the existing file system actions.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein the files system actions include an ability to create new folders, an ability to modify existing folders, an ability to delete folders, and an ability to modify the folder hierarchy.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the files system actions further include an ability to duplicate folders, an ability to support nested folders, and an ability to move folders.

53. The method of claim 40 further comprising providing the ability, via the virtual abstraction layer, to specify that a user may have several different devices and that different content will be made available to the user depending on the particular device they are using.