Method for preserving relationships/dependencies between data in a file system
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- creating a first entry in a table within a memory;
storing an identity of a first file and an identity of an application-related entity in the first entry of the table;
storing first information that identifies a relationship between theapplication-related entity and the contents of the first file in the first entry of the table, whereinthe relationship comprisesa needed-by relationship,a used-by relationship,a refers-to relationship, ora group-by relationship;
receiving a first instruction involving either the first file or the application-related entity, whereinthe first instruction, when implemented, performs a first operation adversely affecting the relationship;
in response to receiving the first instruction, identifying the relationship by accessing the table;
in response to identifying the relationship, selecting a second instruction, whereinthe second instruction is selected by determining the ability of the implementation of the second instruction to preserve the identified relationship,the second instruction, when implemented, performs a second operation involving the first file or the application-related entity, andthe second instruction, when implemented, preserves the relationship between the first file and the application-related entity;
determining the order in which to implement the first and second instructions; and
implementing the first and second instructions in the determined order.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus or method for preserving the relationships or dependencies between content of files in a file system or between content of files in separate file systems. The preservation of relationships or dependencies may require the preservation of the files and their content as well. In one embodiment, the method includes receiving a first instruction that, when implemented, performs an operation involving a first file in a file system, wherein the first file is related to the second file. In response to receiving the first instruction, a second instruction is selected that, when implemented, performs a second operation involving the first file or a second file, wherein the second instruction is implemented before or after implementing the first instruction.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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creating a first entry in a table within a memory; storing an identity of a first file and an identity of an application-related entity in the first entry of the table; storing first information that identifies a relationship between the application-related entity and the contents of the first file in the first entry of the table, wherein the relationship comprises a needed-by relationship, a used-by relationship, a refers-to relationship, or a group-by relationship; receiving a first instruction involving either the first file or the application-related entity, wherein the first instruction, when implemented, performs a first operation adversely affecting the relationship; in response to receiving the first instruction, identifying the relationship by accessing the table; in response to identifying the relationship, selecting a second instruction, wherein the second instruction is selected by determining the ability of the implementation of the second instruction to preserve the identified relationship, the second instruction, when implemented, performs a second operation involving the first file or the application-related entity, and the second instruction, when implemented, preserves the relationship between the first file and the application-related entity; determining the order in which to implement the first and second instructions; and implementing the first and second instructions in the determined order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A memory medium for storing instructions executable by a computer system, wherein the computer system implements a method in response to executing the instructions, the method comprising:
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creating a first entry in a table within a memory; storing an identity of a first file and an identity of an application-related entity in the first entry of the table; storing first information that identifies a relationship between the application-related entity and the contents of the first file in the first entry of the table, wherein the relationship comprises a needed-by relationship, a used-by relationship, a refers-to relationship, or a group-by relationship; receiving a first instruction involving either the first file or the application-related entity, wherein the first instruction, when implemented, performs a first operation adversely affecting the relationship; in response to receiving the first instruction, identifying the relationship by accessing the table; in response to identifying the relationship, selecting a second instruction, wherein the second instruction is selected by determining the ability of the implementation of the second instruction to preserve the identified relationship, the second instruction, when implemented, performs a second operation involving the first file or the application-related entity, and the second instruction, when implemented, preserves the relationship between the first file and the application-related entity; determining the order in which to implement the first and second instructions; and implementing the first and second instructions in the determined order. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a first circuit for creating a first entry in a table within a memory; a second circuit for storing an identity of a first file and an identity of an application-related entity and the contents of the first file in the first entry of the table; a third circuit for storing first information that identifies a relationship between the application-related entity and the contents of the first file in the first entry of the table, wherein the relationship comprises a needed-by relationship, a used-by relationship, a refers-to relationship, or a group-by relationship; a fourth circuit for receiving a first instruction involving either the first file or the application-related entity, wherein the first instruction, when implemented, performs a first operation adversely affecting the relationship; a fifth circuit for identifying the relationship by accessing the table in response to receiving the first instruction a sixth circuit for selecting a second instruction in response to identifying the relationship, wherein the second instruction is selected by determining the ability of the implementation of the second instruction to preserve the identified relationship, the second instruction, when implemented, performs a second operation involving the first file or the application-related entity, and the second instruction, when implemented, preserves the relationship between the first file and the application-related entity; a seventh circuit for determining the order in which to implement the first and second instructions; an eighth circuit for implementing the first instruction; a ninth circuit for implementing the second instruction; and a tenth circuit comprised of the eighth and ninth circuits, wherein the first instruction and the second instruction are implemented in the determined order.
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Specification