TRANSITIVE FILE COPYING

• US 20100205161A1
• Filed: 02/10/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Autodesk, Inc.
• Inventors: Turner, Bryan A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,727,569 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/697
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1464 for networked environments
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture provide an alternative mechanism for copying files. A request to copy a first file from a first source location to a first target location is received. A first checksum value of the first file is determined and used in a query to find a second source location for a second file. The second file has a second checksum value that is equivalent to the first checksum value. Additionally, the second file is located at the second source location. A determination is made regarding whether to copy the first file from the first source location or the second file from the second source location. Thereafter, the first source file or the second source file is copied to the first target location based on the determining.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for copying files, comprising:

(a) receiving a request to copy a first file from a first source location to a first target location;

(b) determining a first checksum value of the first file;

(c) performing a query using the first checksum value to find a second source location for a second file, wherein;

(i) the second file has a second checksum value that is equivalent to the first checksum value; and

(ii) the second file is located at the second source location;

(d) determining whether to copy the first file from the first source location or the second file from the second source location; and

(e) copying the first source file or the second source file to the first target location based on the determining.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first checksum and second checksum each comprise a message-digest algorithm 5 (MD5) hash.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first checksum and the second checksum each comprise a unique hash number.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining a persistent table comprised of:

file checksum values; and

for each file checksum value, one or more file source locations; and

wherein the performing the query step further comprises searching the table for the second checksum value that is equivalent to the first checksum value.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising adding the first target location and checksum to the persistent table.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the persistent table is maintained at the first target location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step and copying step further comprise:

determining whether the first source location or second source location is closer to the first target location; and

copying the source file, to the first target location, from the source location that is closest to the first target location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining step and copying step comprise:

obtaining a first transfer speed from the first source location to the first target location;

obtaining a second transfer speed from the second source location to the first target location;

determining whether the first transfer speed or second transfer speed is faster; and

copying the source file, to the first target location, from the source location with a faster transfer speed.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the first transfer speed and the second transfer speed are obtained using a ping command.

10. An apparatus for copying files in a computer network system comprising:

(a) a computer having a memory;

(b) an application executing on the computer, wherein the application is configured to;

(i) receive a request to copy a first file from a first source location to a first target location;

(ii) determine a first checksum value of the first file;

(iii) perform a query using the first checksum value to find a second source location for a second file, wherein;

(1) the second file has a second checksum value that is equivalent to the first checksum value; and

(2) the second file is located at the second source location;

(iv) determine whether to copy the first file from the first source location or the second file from the second source location; and

(v) copy the first source file or the second source file to the first target location based on the determining.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first checksum and second checksum each comprise a message-digest algorithm 5 (MD5) hash.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first checksum and the second checksum each comprise a unique hash number.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the application is further configured to maintain a persistent table comprised of:

file checksum values; and

for each file checksum value, one or more file source locations; and

wherein the application is configured to perform the query by searching the table for the second checksum value that is equivalent to the first checksum value.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the application is further configured to add the first target location and checksum to the persistent table.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the persistent table is maintained at the first target location.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the application is configured to determine and copy by:

determining whether the first source location or second source location is closer to the first target location; and

copying the source file, to the first target location, from the source location that is closest to the first target location.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the application is configured to determine and copy by:

obtaining a first transfer speed from the first source location to the first target location;

obtaining a second transfer speed from the second source location to the first target location;

determining whether the first transfer speed or second transfer speed is faster; and

copying the source file, to the first target location, from the source location with a faster transfer speed.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first transfer speed and the second transfer speed are obtained using a ping command.