METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING DATA

• US 20100257178A1
• Filed: 03/26/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andrew Carol, Dominic Giampaolo, Yan Arrouye
• Original Assignee: Andrew Carol, Dominic Giampaolo, Yan Arrouye
• Inventors: Carol, Andrew, Giampaolo, Dominic, Arrouye, Yan
• Granted Patent: US 8,156,106 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/13 File access structures, e.g. distributed indices arrangements of input from, or output to, record carriers G06F3/06
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/164 File meta data generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90335 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing data, such as metadata or indexes of content of files. In one exemplary method, notifications to update a metadata database or an index database are combined into a combined notification. According to other aspects, an order among logical locations on a storage device is determined in order to specify a sequence for scanning for files to be indexed. According to another aspect, a method includes determining whether to index a file based on a path name of the file relative to a plurality of predetermined path names.

Claims

1. A machine implemented method of processing data, the method comprising:

determining an order among logical locations on a storage device, the order specifying a sequence for scanning for files to be indexed on the storage device or for scanning for files having metadata to be added to a metadata database, the sequence based upon a likelihood of user documents being in the logical locations;

scanning through the logical locations to determine files to be indexed or to have metadata added to the metadata database.

2. A method as in claim 1 further comprising:

indexing full text content of the files to be indexed.

3. A method as in claim 2 wherein the indexing is performed in the order.

4. A method as in claim 1 wherein the order specifies the sequence which includes a user'"'"'s home folder and a desktop, and wherein the sequence is, at least in part, predetermined.

5. A method as in claim 1 wherein the logical locations are specified by pathnames in a file directory and wherein a system records pathnames accessed by a user in order to determine the likelihood.

6. A machine readable medium providing instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause the data processing system to perform a method of processing data, the method comprising:

determining an order among logical locations on a storage device, the order specifying a sequence for scanning for files to be indexed on the storage device or for scanning for files having metadata to be added to a metadata database, the sequence based upon a likelihood of user documents being in the logical locations;

scanning through the logical locations to determine files to be indexed or to have metadata added to the metadata database.

7. A medium as in claim 6, the method further comprising:

indexing full text content of the files to be indexed.

8. A medium as in claim 7 wherein the indexing is performed in the order.

9. A medium as in claim 6 wherein the order specifies the sequence which includes a user'"'"'s home folder and a desktop, and wherein the sequence is, at least in part, predetermined.

10. A medium as in claim 6 wherein the logical locations are specified by pathnames in a file directory and wherein a system records pathnames accessed by a user in order to determine the likelihood.

11. A data processing system comprising:

determining an order among logical locations on a storage device, the order specifying a sequence for scanning for files to be indexed on the storage device or for scanning for files having metadata to be added to a metadata database, the sequence based upon a likelihood of user documents being in the logical locations;

scanning through the logical locations to determine files to be indexed or to have metadata added to the metadata database.

12. A system as in claim 11 further comprising:

means for indexing full text content of the files to be indexed.

13. A system as in claim 12 wherein the indexing is performed in the order.

14. A system as in claim 11 wherein the order specifies the sequence which includes a user'"'"'s home folder and a desktop, and wherein the sequence is, at least in part, predetermined.

15. A system as in claim 11 wherein the logical locations are specified by pathnames in a file directory and wherein a system records pathnames accessed by a user in order to determine the likelihood.