Deletion in data file forwarding framework

• US 7,668,927 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2008
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Distributed Media Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Tajitshu Transfer LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Merritt, Edward, Fein, Gene
• Primary Examiner(s): DENNISON, JERRY B
• Application Number:
  US12/329,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 445 Days
• Field of Search: 709/251, 709/212, 710/100
• US Class Current: 709/212
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/162 Delete operations erasing in storage systems G06F3/0652
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for deletion in data file forwarding framework. A framework includes a network of interconnected computer system nodes in which data files are continuously forwarded from computer memory to computer memory without storing on any physical storage device in the network, a central server coupled to the network, and a deletion server coupled to the network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

in a network of interconnected computer system nodes in which one or more data items are continuously forwarded among the nodes without storing the forwarded one or more data items on any fixed storage medium in the network wherein the forwarded data items are available for retrieval if a request to retrieve the data is received, receiving a request from a source system coupled to the network to delete at least one of the data file items being continuously forwarded, the request including a file name associated with the at least one data item to be deleted;

searching an index file associated with a central server in the network for the file name;

removing the file name from the index file;

locating the at least one data item represented by the file name in the network; and

directing the located at least one data file item to a computer system node in the network that does not forward or store data items.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein locating comprises:

matching the request at the central server using a hash mark representing the at least one data item entering a node;

sending a message to a node that is predicted to have the at least one data item; and

sending a confirmation message to the central server that the at least one data item has been deleted.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving an acknowledgment from the computer system node in the network that does not forward data items that the requested at least one data item has been deleted.

4. A tangible computer readable medium embodying instructions for causing a data processing apparatus to perform a method for maintaining data items, the method comprising:

in a network of interconnected computer system nodes in which one or more data items are continuously forwarded among the nodes without storing the forwarded one or more data items on any fixed storage medium in the network wherein the forwarded data items are available for retrieval if a request to retrieve the data is received, receiving a request from a source system coupled to the network to delete at least one of the data items being continuously forwarded, the request including a file name associated with the at least one data item to be deleted;

searching an index file associated with a central server in the network for the file name;

removing the file name from the index file;

locating the at least one data item represented by the file name in the network; and

directing the located at least one data file item to a computer system node in the network that does not forward or store data items.

5. The computer readable medium of claim 4 wherein locating comprises:

matching the request at the central server using a hash mark representing the at least one data item entering a node;

sending a message to a node that is predicted to have the at least one data item; and

sending a confirmation message to the central server that the at least one data item has been deleted.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 5 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving an acknowledgment from the computer system node in the network that does not forward data items that the requested at least one data item has been deleted.

7. A framework comprising:

a network of interconnected computer system nodes in which one or more data items are continuously forwarded among the nodes without storing the forwarded one or more data items on any fixed storage medium in the network wherein the forwarded data items are available for retrieval if a request to retrieve the data is received;

a central server coupled to the network; and

a deletion server coupled to the network;

wherein the central server is adapted to;

receive a request to delete at least one of the data items being continuously forwarded in the network;

search an index file associated with the central server for a file name representing the at least one data item to be deleted;

remove the file name from the index file;

locate the at least one data item represented by the file name in the network; and

direct the located at least one data item to the deletion server.

8. The framework of claim 7 wherein locating comprises:

matching the request at the central server using a hash mark representing the at least one data item entering a node;

sending a message to a node that is predicted to have the at least one data item; and

sending a confirmation message to the central server that the at least one data item has been deleted.