Nonintrusive update of files
First Claim
1. A method of updating a subject file stored in a target location in computer storage, comprising the following steps:
- recognizing if an updated version of said subject file exists;
copying said updated version of said subject file to a temporary location;
determining if said subject file is presently being accessed to determine a use status;
if said subject file is not in use, copying said updated version from said temporary location to said target location;
if said subject file is presently in use, transferring said updated version from said temporary location to an intermediate location;
redirecting new requests for said subject file to said updated version located in said intermediate location, and wherein said determining step is repeated until said updated version is copied into said target location, said transferring to said intermediate location step occurring only during an initial determination of said use status and skipped for subsequent iterations of said determining step.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Updating a file which is currently open is accomplished by allowing current users to continue accessing the original file while redirecting new users to an updated version. When user activity permits, the updated version is substituted for the original file. An auxiliary program detects when a server application attempts to access an out-of-date file version and redirects the access call to the up-to-date file version. When no users are accessing the out-of-date file version, the up-to-date version of the file is substituted thereby allowing access to the most recent file version without creating errors for users who are accessing the older file version. New updates of files are transferred from a master site to a temporary location, accessible intermediate location, and finally to a permanent location.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of updating a subject file stored in a target location in computer storage, comprising the following steps:
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recognizing if an updated version of said subject file exists;
copying said updated version of said subject file to a temporary location;
determining if said subject file is presently being accessed to determine a use status;
if said subject file is not in use, copying said updated version from said temporary location to said target location;
if said subject file is presently in use, transferring said updated version from said temporary location to an intermediate location;
redirecting new requests for said subject file to said updated version located in said intermediate location, and wherein said determining step is repeated until said updated version is copied into said target location, said transferring to said intermediate location step occurring only during an initial determination of said use status and skipped for subsequent iterations of said determining step. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer media product implementing a method of updating a subject file stored in a target location, said computer media product comprising computer programmable code implementing:
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recognizing if an updated version of said subject file exists;
copying said updated version of said subject file to a temporary location;
determining if said subject file is presently being accessed to determine a use status;
if said subject file is not in use, copying said updated version from said temporary location to said target location;
if said subject file is presently in use, transferring said updated version from said temporary location to an intermediate location;
redirecting new requests for said subject file to said updated version located in said intermediate location, and wherein said determining step is repeated until said updated version is copied into said target location, said transferring to said intermediate location step occurring only during an initial determination of said use status and skipped for subsequent iterations of said determining step. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A system for updating a subject file while allowing continued access to said file, said system comprising:
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an originating file location for an updated version of said subject file;
a temporary location for storing a copy of said updated subject file;
a determining element to indicate a positive or negative usage status of said subject file, the positive or negative usage status being a result of determining if said subject file is presently being accessed;
a destination file location receiving said copy of said updated subject file directly if said usage status is negative, if otherwise positive, an intermediate location for receiving an accessible copy of said updated subject file until said usage status is reversed to negative, thereby said destination file location receiving said copy of said updated subject file from said intermediate location, wherein said destination file location receives said copy only during an initial determination of said usage status and is skipped for subsequent iterations of said determination. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification