System and method for domained incremental changes storage and retrieval

• US 5,680,621 A
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Korenshtein, Roni
• Primary Examiner(s): Teska, Kevin J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fiul, Dan
• Application Number:
  US08/486,485
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 395/500, 395/479, 395/700, 395/161, 395/578, 395/705, 395/376, 395/384
• US Class Current: 717/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

A computer or computer program product having a computer-readable medium comprising at least one controller to enable a processor to perform incremental changes storage and retrieval. The at least one controller comprises an incremental storage adaptor for enabling the processor to store a change associated with a base file, rather than modifying the base file by the change and storing the result as a new file. An incremental retrieval adaptor is included for enabling the processor to merge the change with the base file thereby forming a logical new file. The incremental retrieval adaptor can perform the merging in response to a call from an application running on the processor or another processor, and the incremental retrieval adaptor then provides or otherwise makes the logical new file available to the application.

Claims

1. A computer system for incremental changes storage and retrieval, comprising:

a processor;

at least one controller to control said processor, comprising;

incremental storage adaptor means for enabling said processor to store a change associated with a base file, rather than modifying the base file by said change and storing the result as a new file; and

incremental retrieval adaptor means for enabling said processor to merge said change with said base file thereby forming a logical new file;

wherein said incremental retrieval adaptor performs said merging in response to a call from an application running on said processor, and said incremental retrieval adaptor then provides or otherwise makes said logical new file available to said application.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said change is stored in a domained incremental change repository.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said call passes information identifying said domained incremental change repository and said base file to said incremental retrieval adaptor.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said system has a plurality of domained incremental change repositories.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said incremental storage adaptor means interfaces with said domained incremental change repository to one of add, delete and roll-back changes therein.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein said incremental retrieval adaptor means interfaces with said domained incremental change repository in a process to form a logical new file.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein said base file has changes in two or more domained incremental change repositories.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein said base file has a default domained incremental change repository.

9. A controller for enabling a processor to perform incremental changes storage and retrieval, comprising:

incremental storage adaptor means for enabling the processor to store a change associated with a base file, rather than modifying the base file by said change and storing the result as a new file; and

incremental retrieval adaptor means for enabling the processor to merge said change with said base file thereby forming a logical new file;

wherein said incremental retrieval adaptor performs said merging in response to a call from an application running on said processor, and said incremental retrieval adaptor then provides or otherwise makes said logical new file available to said application.

10. The controller according to claim 9, wherein said change is stored in a domained incremental change repository.

11. The controller according to claim 10, wherein said system has a plurality of domained incremental change repositories.

12. The controller according to claim 10, wherein said incremental storage adaptor means interfaces with said domained incremental change repository to one of add, delete and roll-back changes therein.

13. The controller according to claim 10, wherein said incremental retrieval adaptor means interfaces with said domained incremental change repository in a process to form a logical new file.

14. The controller according to claim 10, wherein said base file has changes in two or more domained incremental change repositories.

15. The controller according to claim 10, wherein said base file has a default domained incremental change repository.