VIRTUAL FILE SYSTEM

• US 20160246816A1
• Filed: 02/24/2015
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Abiri, Ahmad, Dietz, Quentin
• Granted Patent: US 10,013,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/148 File search processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/192 Implementing virtual folder structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/903 Querying for retrieval from the web G06F16/953

Abstract

A virtual file system is provided. Results are received of a first search for files related to current context of a user of the virtual file system, the files being stored on physical media and/or other virtual file systems. The results of the first search are organized into contextually significant virtual folders of the virtual file system. A first entry is recorded into a history of path mappings which map location of the files in the virtual folders to locations of the files on the physical media. Results are received of a second search for files related to an updated context of the user of the virtual file system. The organization of contextually significant virtual folders is updated based on the results of the second search, and a second entry is recorded into the history of path mappings based on the updated organization.

Claims

1. A method in a virtual file system comprising:

receiving results of a first search for files related to current context of a user of the virtual file system, the files being stored on physical media and/or other virtual file systems;

organizing the results of the first search into contextually significant virtual folders of the virtual file system;

recording a first entry into a history of path mappings which map location of the files in the virtual folders to locations of the files on the physical media;

receiving results of a second search for files related to an updated context of the user of the virtual file system; and

updating the organization of contextually significant virtual folders based on the results of the second search and recording a second entry into the history of path mappings based on the updated organization.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to open a selected file from a virtual folder; and

resolving the path of the selected file to a physical location of a target file on a physical medium, by reference to an entry in the recorded history of path mappings corresponding to a time when the file open request was received.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising opening the target file from the physical location on the physical medium.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a request to close the opened file;

resolving the path of the opened file to a physical location of a target file on a physical medium by reference to the entry in the recorded history of path mappings corresponding to a time when the file open request was received; and

closing the target file.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein closing the target file includes updating the target file with changes made to the opened file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein current context of the user comprises at least system state and at least user behavior correlated over time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each entry in the history of path mappings further includes at least content of opened files, virtual folder structure, and metadata of files in the virtual folders.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second search is triggered by a change in current context of the user of the virtual file system that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second search is triggered periodically after an elapse of a predetermined interval.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second search is triggered by the first to occur of a change in current context of the user of the virtual file system that exceeds a predetermined threshold and an elapse of a predetermined interval.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the searching is performed continuously and automatically.

12. A method in a virtual file system comprising:

monitoring current context of a user of the virtual file system, wherein current context of the user includes at least system state and at least user behavior correlated over time;

searching for files related to a current context of the user of the virtual file system, the files being stored on physical media and/or other virtual file systems;

organizing the results of the search into contextually significant virtual folders in the virtual file system; and

displaying the virtual folders for manipulation by the user of the virtual file system.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the search is performed across multiple remote repositories of physical media.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising maintaining a cache which stores copies of physical files listed in the virtual folders linked to virtual paths for the virtual folders.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the search is triggered by a change in current context of the user of the virtual file system that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the search is triggered periodically after an elapse of a predetermined interval.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the search is triggered by the first to occur of a change in current context of the user of the virtual file system that exceeds a predetermined threshold and an elapse of a predetermined interval.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the searching is performed continuously and automatically.

19. A method in a virtual file system comprising:

receiving results of a first search for files related to a current context of a user of the virtual file system, the files being stored on physical media and/or other virtual file systems;

organizing the results of the first search into contextually significant virtual folders in the virtual file system;

responsive to selection of a virtual folder in the virtual file system, displaying a list of files organized in the selected virtual folder according to the first search; and

responsive to selection of a root directory in the virtual file system, further comprising;

obtaining results of a second search for files related to an updated context of the user of the virtual file system, updating the organization of contextually significant virtual folders, and displaying the updated organization of virtual folders.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein responsive to selection of a virtual folder, further comprising:

resolving path mappings of physical locations on the physical media to virtual files in the selected virtual folder; and

retrieving a list of virtual files and virtual folders contained in the selected virtual folder.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a request to open a selected file listed in a virtual folder;

modifying contents of the virtual file to add application-level attributes including information for mapping of the virtual file to a physical location on a physical medium; and

opening the modified file.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving a request to close the opened file;

extracting the application-level attributes added to the virtual file, including extraction of the physical path;

updating the target file mapped by the path mapping so as to include updates to the opened virtual file; and

closing the virtual file.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the second search is also triggered by a change in current context of the user of the virtual file system that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the second search is also triggered periodically after an elapse of a predetermined interval.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the second search is also triggered by the first to occur of a change in current context of the user of the virtual file system that exceeds a predetermined threshold and an elapse of a predetermined interval.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein the searching is performed continuously and automatically.

27. A method in a virtual file system comprising:

receiving results of a first search for files related to current context of a user of the virtual file system, the files being stored on physical media and/or other virtual file systems;

organizing the results of the first search into contextually significant virtual folders of the virtual file system;

recording a first entry into a history of path mappings which map location of the files in the virtual folders to locations of the files on the physical media.