Method and implementation of session-based file locking for network applications

• US 7,246,119 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2003
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Corporation, Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation), Toshiba Tec Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Su, William, Nguyen, Truc, Kuwata, Katie
• Primary Examiner(s): PANNALA, SATHYANARAYA R
• Application Number:
  US10/384,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182285A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707 8- 10, 707/202, 707/201, 707/205, 709/219
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/922 Communications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99938 Concurrency, e.g. lock management in shared database
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A file locking method and implementation are disclosed which allows a plurality of user sessions to open and read a file, but at any one time, only one session will be allowed to change the data displayed in the browser window and to update the file. This file locking method sets up a file access priority by using file locks that are date-time stamped and session stamped. The types of lock associated with the present invention include read lock, authority lock, write lock, and folder lock. When a session/user requests access to a file, the application will check a lock table associated with the requested file. For each lock on the file, there is an entry in the lock table for each of the attributes of the lock: lock type, session owner, date-time stamp. Depending on the lock and the existing locks on the file, the requesting session may be granted a lock. After the access request is fulfilled, the file lock may be removed. When a session expires, all the locks owned by this session will be invalidated and removed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for managing document access, comprising:

a web server for storing, editing, and manipulating files and file folders in accordance with at least one session received via an associated network from a browser of at least one of a plurality of associated computers;

means for generating a common lock file associated with each of a plurality of electronic documents, which electronic documents include at least one of a file and file folder corresponding thereto;

means for receiving a document access request for access to a selected electronic document from an associated thin client via an associated network;

means for generating a temporary file lock associated with the selected electronic document;

testing means for testing the common lock file for a preexisting lock corresponding to the selected electronic document;

means for releasing the temporary lock file upon a determination of an existence of a preexisting lock on the selected electronic document;

means for generating a file lock in the common lock file corresponding to the selected electronic document upon a determination of an absence of a preexisting lock on the selected electronic document;

control means for controlling access to the at least one of the files and file folders in accordance with the common lock file;

networked storage means associated with the web server for storing the common lock file so as to control sessions of each of the plurality of computers; and

means for communicating, to at least one associated computer via the associated network, status data representative of whether access to at least one of the files and file folders are allowed in accordance with an output of the testing means,

wherein the control means includes means for selectively updating content of the lock file to include lock access data for controlling access attributes to at least one file and file folder corresponding thereto stored on the file storage means, the lock access attributes including at least one of a read lock, an authority lock, a write lock, and a folder lock.

2. The computer-implemented system for managing document access of claim 1 wherein the lock file is implemented as a temporary file having a file name with the lock access attributes of the lock file encoded in the file name.

3. The computer-implemented system for managing document access of claim 2 wherein the lock file further comprises a data representative of a date and time the lock file was generated.

4. The computer-implemented system for managing document access of claim 2 wherein the lock access attributes further comprise session identification data representative of a request to access at least one of the files and file folders.

5. The computer-implemented system for managing document access of claim 2 wherein the lock file is generated upon the commencement of a session.

6. The computer-implemented system for managing document access of claim 5 further comprising means for deleting the lock file upon the termination of a session.

7. The computer-implemented system for managing document access of claim 6 further comprising means for receiving a request to terminate access to at least one of the files and file folders.

8. The computer-implemented system for managing document access of claim 7 wherein a session is terminated by at least one of receiving a request to terminate access to at least one of the files and file folders or a predetermined period wherein no requests for further access to at least one of the files and file folders are received.

9. A computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access comprising the steps of:

performing at least one of a storing, editing, and manipulating of files and file folders in a web server in accordance with at least one session received via an associated network from a browser of at least one of a plurality of associated computers;

generating a common lock file associated with each of a plurality of electronic documents, which electronic documents include at least one of a file and file folder corresponding thereto;

receiving a document access request for access to a selected electronic document from an associated thin client via an associated network;

generating a temporary file lock associated with the selected electronic document;

testing the common lock file for a preexisting lock corresponding to the selected electronic document;

releasing the temporary lock file upon a determination of an existence of a preexisting lock on the selected electronic document;

generating a file lock in the common lock file corresponding to the selected electronic document upon a determination of an absence of a preexisting lock on the selected electronic document;

controlling access to the at least one of the files and file folders in accordance with the common lock file;

storing the common lock file in a storage associated with the web server so as to control sessions of each of the plurality of computers; and

communicating, to at least one associated computer via the associated network, status data representative of whether access to at least one of the files and folders are allowed in accordance with an output of the testing of the common lock file, and

updating content of the lock file to include lock access data adapted for controlling access attributes to at least one file and file folder corresponding thereto stored on the file storage means, the lock access attributes including at least one of a read lock, an authority lock, a write lock, and a folder lock.

10. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 9, wherein in the event the at least one file and file folder are locked, periodically querying whether the lock has been removed.

11. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 9, wherein the lock file is implemented as a temporary file having a file name with the lock access attributes of the lock file encoded in the file name.

12. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 9, wherein the lock file further comprises data representative of a date and time the lock file was generated.

13. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 9, wherein the lock access attributes further comprise session identification data representative of a request to access at least one of the files and file folders.

14. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 13, wherein the lock file is generated upon the commencement of a session.

15. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 14, further comprising the step of deleting the lock file upon the termination of a session.

16. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 15 further comprising the step of receiving a request to terminate access to at least one of the files and file folders.

17. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 16, wherein a session is terminated by at least one of receiving a request to terminate access to at least one of the files and file folders or a predetermined period wherein no requests for further access to at least one of the files and the file folders are received.

18. A computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access comprising the steps of:

performing at least one of a storing, editing, and manipulating of files and file folders in a web server in accordance with at least one session received via an associated network from a browser of at least one of a plurality of associated computers;

generating a common lock file associated with each of a plurality of electronic documents, which electronic documents include at least one of a file and file folder corresponding thereto;

receiving a document access request for access to a selected electronic document from an associated thin client via an associated network;

generating a temporary file lock associated with the selected electronic document;

testing the common lock file for a preexisting lock corresponding to the selected electronic document;

releasing the temporary lock file upon a determination of an existence of a preexisting lock on the selected electronic document;

generating a file lock in the common lock file corresponding to the selected electronic document upon a determination of an absence of a preexisting lock on the selected electronic document;

controlling access to the at least one of the files and file folders in accordance with the common lock file;

storing the common lock file in a storage associated with the web server so as to control sessions of each of the plurality of computers; and

communicating, to at least one associated computer via the associated network, status data representative of whether access to at least one of the files and folders are allowed in accordance with an output of the testing of the common lock file, and

updating content of the lock file to include lock access data for controlling access attributes to at least one file and file folder corresponding thereto stored on the file storage means, the lock access attributes including at least one of a read lock, an authority lock, a write lock, and a folder lock.

19. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 18, wherein in the event the at least one file and file folder are locked, periodically querying whether the lock has been removed.

20. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 18, wherein the lock file is implemented as a temporary file having a file name with the lock access attributes of the lock file encoded in the file name.

21. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 18, wherein the lock file further comprises data representative of a date and time the lock file was generated.

22. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 18, wherein the lock access attributes further comprise session identification data representative of a request to access at least one of the files and file folders.

23. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 22, wherein the lock file is generated upon the commencement of a session.

24. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 23, further comprising the step of deleting the lock file upon the termination of a session.

25. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 24 further comprising the step of receiving a request to terminate access to at least one of the files and file folders.

26. The computer-implemented method for managing web-based document access of claim 25, wherein a session is terminated by at least one of receiving a request to terminate access to at least one of the files and file folders or a predetermined period wherein no requests for further access to at least one of the files and the file folders are received.