Server for synchronization of files

• US 20060112150A1
• Filed: 01/05/2006
• Published: 05/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Micro Focus Software, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Wein, Josef, Brown, David K., Rolander, Thomas A., Silberstein, Robert D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,657,517 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1787 Details of non-transparently synchronising file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A server stores files. Distributed clients access the server, to learn about changes made to the files on the server, and to push local changes of the files onto the server. A synchronization application is used to synchronize the clients and server, synchronizing metadata and selected files.

Claims

1. A synchronization file system installed on a server for synchronizing a first set of files on the server with a second set of files on a client, comprising:

a server sync index (SSI) for the first set of files;

a first directory entry for a directory, including a first metadata item containing a directory sync index (DSI);

a second directory entry for a file in the first set of files, including a second metadata item containing a file sync index (FSI); and

means for assigning a server ID (SID) to at least one of the first metadata item for the first directory entry and the second metadata item for the second directory entry.

2. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for updating the SSI when a change occurs to the first directory entry.

3. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing a change time to the metadata item for the first directory entry.

4. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for assigning a previous version file ID (PFID) to the second metadata item.

5. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second directory entry includes a name; and

the synchronization file system further comprises means for storing an encrypted version of the name in the metadata item for the second directory entry.

6. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing an encrypted version of the file.

7. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, wherein:

the file includes a message digest array (MDA), the MDA supporting identification of at least a portion of the file that has changed; and

the synchronization file system further comprises means for storing the MDA.

8. A synchronization file system according to claim 7, wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the MDA with the file.

9. A synchronization file system according to claim 7, wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the MDA in the second metadata item.

10. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating a server sync data (SSD).

11. A synchronization file system according to claim 10, wherein the means for generating includes means for generating a SSD responsive to a client sync index (CSI).

12. A synchronization file system installed on a server for synchronizing a first set of files on the server with a second set of files on a client, comprising:

a directory in a user account in the sync file system;

a server ID assigned to the directory;

a directory sync index (DSI) assigned to the directory;

a file of the first set of files in the directory;

a file sync index (FSI) assigned to the file; and

a server sync index (SSI) for the user account.

13. A synchronization file system according to claim 12, further comprising a metadata item for the directory storing the server ID assigned to the directory.

14. A synchronization file system according to claim 13, wherein the metadata item for the directory further stores the directory sync index assigned to the directory.

15. A synchronization file system according to claim 13, wherein the metadata item for the directory further stores a change time assigned to the directory.

16. A synchronization file system according to claim 13, wherein:

the directory includes a name; and

the metadata item for the directory further stores an encrypted name assigned to the directory.

17. A synchronization file system according to claim 12, further comprising

a second server ID assigned to the file.

18. A synchronization file system according to claim 17, further comprising a metadata item for the file storing the second server ID assigned to the file and the FSI assigned to the file.

19. A synchronization file system according to claim 18, wherein the metadata item for the file further stores a previous version file ID (PFID) assigned to the file.

20. A synchronization file system according to claim 18, wherein the metadata item for the file further stores a change time assigned to the file.

21. A synchronization file system according to claim 18, wherein:

the file includes a name; and

the metadata item for the file further stores an encrypted name assigned to the file.

22. A synchronization file system according to claim 17, wherein the file is an encrypted file.

23. A synchronization file system according to claim 17, further comprising a message digest array (MDA), the MDA supporting identification of at least a portion of the file that has changed.

24. A synchronization file system according to claim 23, wherein the MDA is stored with the file.

25. A synchronization file system according to claim 23, wherein the MDA is stored in a metadata item for the file.

26. A synchronization file system according to claim 12, further comprising a server sync data (SSD).

27. A synchronization file system according to claim 12, further comprising:

a first metadata item for the directory to store the DSI; and

a second metadata item for the file to store the FSI.

28. A method for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

receiving a client sync index (CSI) from the client;

transmitting a server sync index (SSI) to the client;

using the CSI and SSI to determine whether the server and client are synchronized; and

if the server and client are not synchronized;

generating a server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI and a directory sync index (DSI); and

transmitting the SSD to the client.

29. A method according to claim 28, further comprising:

receiving a request from the client for a file;

transmitting the file to the client.

30. A method according to claim 29, wherein:

receiving a request includes receiving a request for a message digest array (MDA) for the file, the MDA supporting identification of at least a portion of the file that has changed and

transmitting the file includes transmitting the MDA to the client.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein:

receiving a request includes receiving a request from the client for a block of the file; and

transmitting the file includes transmitting the block of the file to the client.

32. A method according to claim 28, wherein generating a server sync data (SSD) includes generating the server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI, a directory sync index (DSI), and a file sync index (FSI).

33. A method for a synchronization file system (SFS) of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

receiving an instruction from the client to update a first directory entry and a second directory entry;

performing the instruction;

updating a server sync index (SSI);

updating a directory sync index (DSI) for the first directory entry;

updating a file sync index (FSI) for the second directory entry; and

transmitting the updated SSI, the updated DSI, and the updated FSI to the client.

34. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the synchronization file system assigning the SSI to a metadata item.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein:

receiving an instruction includes receiving a metadata item from the client; and

performing the instruction includes adding the metadata item to a server SFS database.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein performing the instruction includes modifying a metadata item.

37. A method according to claim 33, wherein performing an instruction includes:

creating a third directory in the first directory;

assigning a server ID (SID) to the third directory; and

transmitting the SID for the third directory to the client.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein assigning a server ID (SID) to the third directory includes storing the SID in a metadata item for the third directory.

39. A method according to claim 33, wherein performing an instruction includes:

receiving a file from the client;

adding the file into a server SFS database;

assigning a server ID (SID) to the file; and

transmitting the SID for the file to the client.

40. A method according to claim 39, wherein receiving a file includes:

copying the file to a temporary file;

receiving a block of the file;

incorporating the block into the temporary copy of the file; and

adding the temporary copy of the file into a server SFS database.

41. Computer-readable media containing a program for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

software for receiving a client sync index (CSI) from the client;

software for transmitting a server sync index (SSI) to the client;

software for using the CSI and SSI to determine whether the server and client are synchronized; and

if the server and client are not synchronized;

software for generating a server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI and a directory sync index (DSI); and

software for transmitting the SSD to the client.

42. Computer-readable media containing a program for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

software for receiving an instruction from the client to update a first directory entry and a second directory entry;

software for performing the instruction;

software for updating a server sync index (SSI);

software for updating a directory sync index (DSI) for the first directory entry;

software for updating a file sync index (FSI) for the second directory entry; and

software for transmitting the updated SSI, the updated DSI, and the updated FSI to the client.