System and method for communicating file system events using a publish-subscribe model

• US 7,437,375 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2004
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veritas Technologies, LLC (Whitehouse Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Operating Corporation (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Premo, Nur, Borthakur, Dhrubajyoti
• Primary Examiner(s): Lu; Kuen S
• Application Number:
  US10/919,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 707/101, 707/104.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method for communicating file system events using a publish-subscribe model. In one embodiment, the system may include a storage device configured to store data and a file system configured to manage access to the storage device and to store file system content. The file system may be further configured to detect a file system content access event, and in response to detecting the file system content access event, to publish a record of the file system content access event to a publish-subscribe channel accessible by one or more applications.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a storage device configured to store data;

a query system configured to evaluate queries formulated in a query language; and

a file system configured to manage access to said storage device and to store file system content to said storage device, wherein said file system is further configured to;

detect a file system content access event; and

in response to detecting said file system content access event, publish a record of said file system content access event to one or more of a plurality of publish-subscribe channels, wherein each of said plurality of publish-subscribe channels is associated with a respective query;

wherein a particular one of said plurality of publish-subscribe channels is configured to deliver said record of said file system content access event to one or more applications that are distinct from said file system dependent upon determining that said one or more applications are subscribed to said publish-subscribe channel and further dependent upon said query system determining that said file system content access event satisfies said respective query associated with said particular publish-subscribe channel.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising a content processor configured to detect a transactional event, wherein said transactional event occurs in response to one or more file system content access events or in response to detecting one or more particular states of file system content, and wherein a transactional event record corresponding to said transactional event is published to said publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said transactional event satisfies said given query.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said query system is further configured to evaluate said given query in response to receiving an indication of said file system content access event, and wherein said record is published to said publish-subscribe channel dependent upon said evaluation.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said query system is further configured to evaluate said given query in response to receiving a channel content request from a given one of said one or more applications, and wherein said publish-subscribe channel is further configured to convey said record to said given application dependent upon said evaluation.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said channel content request includes a timestamp, and wherein said publish-subscribe channel is further configured to convey said record to said given application dependent upon said record corresponding to an event occurring more recently than a time indicated by said timestamp.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said given query and state associated with said publish-subscribe channel are stored within said query system.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said given query and state associated with said publish-subscribe channel are stored externally to said query system.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said query language is compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) Query Language (XQuery).

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said record is stored in a data format compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

10. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said publish-subscribe channel is compliant with a version of Resource Description Framework (RDF) Site Summary syndication protocol (RSS protocol).

11. A method, comprising:

a file system storing file system content to a storage device and detecting a file system content access event directed to said file system content;

in response to detecting said file system , said file system publishing a record of said file system content access event to one or more of a plurality of publish-subscribe channels, wherein each of said plurality of publish-subscribe channels is associated with a respective query formulated in a query language; and

a particular one of said publish-subscribe channels delivering said record of said file system content access event to one or more applications that are distinct from said file system dependent upon determining that said one or more applications are subscribed to said publish-subscribe channel and further dependent upon a query system determining that said file system content access event satisfies said respective query associated with said particular publish-subscribe channel.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

detecting a transactional event; and

publishing a transactional event record corresponding to said transactional event to said publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said transactional event satisfies said query;

wherein said transactional event occurs in response to one or more file system content access events or in response to detecting one or more particular states of file system content.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said query language is compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) Query Language (XQuery).

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said record is stored in a data format compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said publish-subscribe channel is compliant with a version of Resource Description Framework (RDF) Site Summary syndication protocol (RSS protocol).

16. A computer-accessible storage medium comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable to implement:

a file system storing file system content to a storage device and detecting a file system content access event directed to said file system content;

a query system evaluating queries formulated in a query language;

in response to detecting said file system content access event, said file system publishing a record of said file system content access event to one or more of a plurality of publish-subscribe channels, wherein each of said plurality of publish-subscribe channels is associated with a respective query; and

a particular one of said publish-subscribe channels delivering said record of said file system content access event to one or more applications that are distinct from said file system dependent upon determining that said one or more applications are subscribed to said publish-subscribe channel and further dependent upon said query system determining that said file system content access event satisfies said respective query associated with said particular publish-subscribe channel.

17. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the program instructions are further executable to:

detect a transactional event; and

publish a transactional event record corresponding to said transactional event to said publish-subscribe channel in response to determining that said transactional event satisfies said query;

wherein said transactional event occurs in response to one or more file system content access events or in response to detecting one or more particular states of file system content.

18. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein said query language is compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) Query Language (XQuery).

19. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein said record is stored in a data format compliant with a version of Extensible Markup Language (XML) format.

20. The computer-accessible storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein said publish-subscribe channel is compliant with a version of Resource Description Framework (RDF) Site Summary syndication protocol (RSS protocol).