Server for synchronization of files

• US 7,035,847 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Focus Software, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Silberstein, Robert D., Rolander, Thomas A., Brown, David K., Wein, Josef
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wu, Yicun
• Application Number:
  US10/098,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20020194205A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104, 707200-203, 707/104.1, 709/214, 709/223, 709/227, 709/313, 711/152, 364/300, 395/600, 713/201, 714/4
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1787 Details of non-transparently synchronising file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A server stores files. Distributed clients access the server, to learn about changes made to the files on the server, and to push local changes of the files onto the server. A synchronization application is used to synchronize the clients and server, synchronizing metadata and selected files.

Claims

1. A synchronization file system installed on a server, comprising:

a server sync index (SSI) for the synchronization file system;

a first directory entry for a directory, including a first metadata item containing a directory sync index(DSI);

a second directory entry for a file, including a second metadata item containing a file sync index(FSI);

means for storing a message digest array (MDA), wherein the MDA is an array of hashes of blocks of the file;

means for transmitting the MDA to the client; and

means for assigning a server ID (SID) to at least one of the first metadata item for the first directory entry and the second metadata item for the second directory entry.

2. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for updating the SSI when a change occurs to the first directory entry.

3. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing a change time to the metadata item for the directory entry.

4. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for assigning a previous version file ID (PFID) to the second metadata item.

5. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, wherein:

the second directory entry includes a name; and

the synchronization file system further comprises means for storing an encrypted version of the name in the metadata item for the second directory entry.

6. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for storing an encrypted version of the file.

7. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the MDA with the file.

8. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, wherein the means for storing includes means for storing the MDA in the metadata item.

9. A synchronization file system according to claim 1, further comprising means for generating a server sync data (SSD).

10. A synchronization file system according to claim 9, wherein the means for generating includes means for generating a SSD responsive to a client sync index (CSI).

11. A synchronization file system installed on a server, comprising

a directory in a user account in the sync file system;

a server ID assigned to the directory;

a directory sync index (DSI) assigned to the directory;

a file in the directory;

a message digest array (MDA), the MDA is an array of hashes of blocks of the file;

means for transmitting the MDA to the client;

a file sync index (FSI) assigned to the file; and

a server sync index (SSI) for the user account.

12. A synchronization file system according to claim 11, further comprising a metadata item for the directory storing the server ID assigned to the directory.

13. A synchronization file system according to claim 12, wherein the metadata item for the directory further stores a directory sync index assigned to the directory.

14. A synchronization file system according to claim 12, wherein the metadata item for the directory further stores a change time assigned to the directory.

15. A synchronization file system according to claim 12, wherein:

the directory includes a name; and

the metadata item for the directory further stores an encrypted name assigned to the directory.

16. A synchronization file system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a second server ID assigned to the file.

17. A synchronization file system according to claim 16, further comprising a metadata item for the file storing the second server ID assigned to the file and the FSI assigned to the file.

18. A synchronization file system according to claim 17, wherein the metadata item f or the file further stores a previous version file ID (PFID) assigned to the file.

19. synchronization file system according to claim 17, wherein the metadata item for the file further stores a change time assigned to the file.

20. A synchronization file system according to claim 17, wherein:

the file includes a name; and

the metadata item for the file further stores an encrypted name assigned to the file.

21. A synchronization file system according to claim 16, wherein the file is an encrypted file.

22. A synchronization file system according to claim 11, wherein the MDA is stored with the file.

23. A synchronization file system according to claim 11, wherein the MDA is stored in a metadata item for the file.

24. A synchronization file system according to claim 11, further comprising a server sync data (SID).

25. A synchronization file system according to claim 11, further comprising:

a first metadata item for the directory to store the DSI; and

a second metadata item for the directory to store the FSI. comprising a server sync data (SSD).

26. A method for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

receiving a client sync index (CSI) from the client;

transmitting a server sync index (SSI) to the client;

using the CSI and SSI to determine whether the server and client are synchronized; and

if the server and client are not synchronized;

generation a server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI and a directory sync index (DSI);

transmitting the SSD to the client;

receiving a request for a message digest array (MDA) for a file, wherein the MDA is an array of hashes of blocks of the file; and

transmitting the MDA to the client.

27. A method according to claim 26, further comprising:

receiving a request from the client for the file;

transmitting the file to the client.

28. A method according to claim 26, wherein:

receiving a request includes receiving a request from the client for one block of the file; and

transmitting the file includes transmitting the requested block of the file to the client.

29. A method according to claim 26, wherein generating a server sync data (SSD) includes generating the server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI, a directory sync index (DSI), and a file sync index (FSI).

30. A synchronization file system (SFS) of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

receiving an instruction from the client to update a first directory entry and a second directory entry;

including receiving a request for a message digest array (MDA), wherein the MDA is an array of hashes of blocks of the file;

performing the instruction, including transmitting the MDA to the client;

updating a server sync index (SSI); and

updating a directory sync index (DSI) for the first directory entry;

updating a file sync index (FSI) for the second directory entry; and

transmitting the updated SSI, the updated DSI and the updated FSI to the client.

31. A method according to claim 30, further comprising the synchronization file system assigning the SSI to a metadata item.

32. A method according to claim 30, wherein:

receiving an instruction further includes receiving a metadata item from the client; and

performing the instruction further includes adding the metadata item to a server SFS database.

33. A method according to claim 30, wherein performing the instruction further includes modifying a metadata item.

34. A method according to claim 30, wherein performing an instruction further includes:

creating a third directory in the first directory;

assigning a server ID (SID) to the third directory; and

transmitting the SID for the third directory to the client.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein assigning a server ID (SID) to the third directory includes storing the SID in a metadata item for the third directory.

36. A method according to claim 30, wherein performing an instruction further includes:

receiving a second file from the client;

adding the second rile into a server SFS database;

assigning a server ID (SID) to the second file; and

transmitting the SID;

for the second file to the client.

37. A method according to claim 36, wherein receiving a second file includes:

copying the second file to a temporary file;

receiving a block of the second file;

incorporating the block into the temporary copy of the second file; and

adding the temporary copy of the second file into a server SFS database.

38. Computer-readable media containing a program for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

software for receiving a client sync index (CSI) from the client;

software for transmitting a server sync index (SSI) to the client;

software for using the CSI and SSI to determine whether the server and client are synchronized; and

if the server and client are not synchronized;

software for generation a server sync data (SSD), the SSD including the SSI and a directory sync index (DSI);

transmitting the SSD to the client;

software for receiving a request for a message digest array (MDA) for a file, wherein the MDA is an array of hashes of blocks of file; and

software for transmitting the MDA to the client.

39. Computer-readable media containing a program for a synchronization file system of a server to synchronize a first directory on the synchronization file system with a second directory on a client, comprising:

software for receiving an instruction from the client to update a first directory entry and a second directory entry, including receiving a request for a message digest array (MDA) for the file, the MDA is an array of hashes of blocks of the file;

software for performing the instruction, including transmitting the MDA to the client;

software for updating a server sync index (SSI);

software for updating a directory sync index (DSI) for the first directory entry;

software for updating a file sync index (FSI) for the second directory entry; and

software for transmitting the updated SSI, the updated DSI and the updated FSI to the client.