Method and apparatus for providing virtual namespaces for active computing environments
First Claim
1. A method for providing a virtual namespace for a compute capsule, comprising:
- mapping a shared file system into the virtual namespace to create a file system view, the file system view supplying the compute capsule with a private view of a portion of the shared file system;
assigning a virtual token to a resource within the compute capsule, the resource being of the underlying machine and capable of being named by the compute capsule, the compute capsule being configured to provide an encapsulated form that is capable of being moved between computers without restriction, the computers being associated with different physical devices;
interposing a name translator between the resource and the compute capsule;
binding the resource to the virtual token with a name translation table persistently stored within the compute capsule; and
translating the virtual token into the resource using the name translator, if the compute capsule names the resource, wherein the translating is transparent to both an operating system and any application running on the underlying machine, andwherein the mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace includes mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace based on default mappings and custom mappings.
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Abstract
The present invention provides private namespaces for active computing environments. The invention uses one or more “compute capsules”. A compute capsule is a private, portable, persistent environment. Each compute capsule comprises an arbitrary set of active processes and their associated state information. In one embodiment, compute capsules provide a private, customizable view of a shared file system, so that users can modify arbitrary files without the expense of providing each person with a separate and complete file system image. In one embodiment, the invention provides environments with different personalities, each of which can be contained within a capsule. For example, a user can have one capsule for normal desktop usage, a fail-safe capsule with a minimal environment and no external dependencies, capsules for work-related and personal activities, etc. In one embodiment, capsules are given access rights.
110 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for providing a virtual namespace for a compute capsule, comprising:
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mapping a shared file system into the virtual namespace to create a file system view, the file system view supplying the compute capsule with a private view of a portion of the shared file system; assigning a virtual token to a resource within the compute capsule, the resource being of the underlying machine and capable of being named by the compute capsule, the compute capsule being configured to provide an encapsulated form that is capable of being moved between computers without restriction, the computers being associated with different physical devices; interposing a name translator between the resource and the compute capsule; binding the resource to the virtual token with a name translation table persistently stored within the compute capsule; and translating the virtual token into the resource using the name translator, if the compute capsule names the resource, wherein the translating is transparent to both an operating system and any application running on the underlying machine, and wherein the mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace includes mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace based on default mappings and custom mappings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A virtual namespace for a compute capsule, comprising:
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a file system view being created by mapping a shared file system into the virtual name space, the file system view supplying the compute capsule with a private view of a portion of the shared file system; a virtual token configured to represent a resource within the compute capsule, the resource not being shared with other compute capsules, the resource being of the underlying machine and capable of being named by the compute capsule, the compute capsule being configured to provide an encapsulated form that is capable of being moved between computers without restriction, the computers being associated with different physical devices; a binder configured to bind the resource to the virtual token; and a name translator configured to be interposed between the resource and the compute capsule, the name translator configured to translate the virtual token into the resource, if the compute capsule names the resource, wherein translation through the name translator is transparent to both an operating system and any application running on the underlying machine, and wherein the mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace includes mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace based on default mappings and custom mappings. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable storage media for directing a computer to create a virtual namespace for a compute capsule, the computer-readable storage media comprising:
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instructions for creating a file system view in the virtual namespace by mapping a shared file system into the virtual name space, wherein the file system view provides the compute capsule with a private view of a portion of the shared file system; instructions for assigning a virtual token to a resource within the compute capsule, the resource being of the underlying machine and capable of being named by the compute capsule, the compute capsule being configured to provide an encapsulated form that is capable of being moved between computers without restriction, the computers associated with different physical devices; instructions for interposing a name translator between the resource and the compute capsule; instructions for binding the resource to the virtual token with a name translation table persistently stored within the compute capsule; and instructions for translating the virtual token into the resource using the name translator, if the compute capsule names the resource, wherein translation is transparent to both an operating system and any application running on the underlying machine, and wherein the mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace includes mapping the shared file system into the virtual namespace based on default mappings and custom mappings. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification