Single view of data in a networked computer system with distributed storage
First Claim
1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon in a local computer system connected to a computer network, said instructions configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining a request to identify specified data objects in accordance with a criterion;
(b) querying the local computer system for a first specified data object, a second specified data object, and a third specified data object;
(c) receiving an indication that the first specified data object is stored on the local computer system, and that the second specified data object and the third specified data object are not stored on the local computer system, wherein the first specified data object is included in a local identification set;
(d) in response to receiving the indication that the second specified data object and the third specified data object are not stored on the local computer system, querying a first computer system in the computer network for the second specified data object and the third specified data object such that the first computer system is not queried for the specified data objects that correspond to the specified data objects in the local identification set that are stored on the local computer system;
(e) obtaining a first identification set of the specified data objects that are stored at the first computer system, wherein the first identification set includes the second specified data object;
(f) querying a second computer system for the third specified data object;
(g) determining that the second computer system is not currently available;
(h) recalling a previously stored content request result for the second computer system that includes the third specified data object;
(i) receiving a second identification set of the specified data objects that are stored at the second computer system, wherein the second identification set includes the third specified data object;
(j) maintaining only one identification for a replicated data object that is contained in more than one of the first identification set and the second identification set;
(k) merging the local identification set, the first identification set, and the second identification set to form a merged identification set; and
(l) displaying the merged identification set, wherein the specified data objects in the second identification set are visually distinguished from the specified data objects in the local and the first identification sets by one or more of a dotted border, being semi-transparent, or being highlighted to indicate that one or more of the specified data objects in the merged identification set are stored on the second computer system and cannot currently be accessed.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A host computer system obtains a request for an aggregated view of content in a computer network corresponding to a criterion. The host computer system queries networked computer systems to identify data objects according to the criterion. Each responding computer system provides an identification set of specified data objects that are stored at the responding computer to the host computer systems. The host computer system merges the identification sets to form the aggregated view of content to a user. If a specified data object is replicated to networked computers, the host computer system provides one instance of the specified data object in the query result. Consequently, concurrent utilization of file synchronization and the aggregated view of data objects are facilitated. If a specified data object is stored at the host computer system, the host computer system blocks querying of networked computers about the specified data object.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon in a local computer system connected to a computer network, said instructions configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining a request to identify specified data objects in accordance with a criterion; (b) querying the local computer system for a first specified data object, a second specified data object, and a third specified data object; (c) receiving an indication that the first specified data object is stored on the local computer system, and that the second specified data object and the third specified data object are not stored on the local computer system, wherein the first specified data object is included in a local identification set; (d) in response to receiving the indication that the second specified data object and the third specified data object are not stored on the local computer system, querying a first computer system in the computer network for the second specified data object and the third specified data object such that the first computer system is not queried for the specified data objects that correspond to the specified data objects in the local identification set that are stored on the local computer system; (e) obtaining a first identification set of the specified data objects that are stored at the first computer system, wherein the first identification set includes the second specified data object; (f) querying a second computer system for the third specified data object; (g) determining that the second computer system is not currently available; (h) recalling a previously stored content request result for the second computer system that includes the third specified data object; (i) receiving a second identification set of the specified data objects that are stored at the second computer system, wherein the second identification set includes the third specified data object; (j) maintaining only one identification for a replicated data object that is contained in more than one of the first identification set and the second identification set; (k) merging the local identification set, the first identification set, and the second identification set to form a merged identification set; and (l) displaying the merged identification set, wherein the specified data objects in the second identification set are visually distinguished from the specified data objects in the local and the first identification sets by one or more of a dotted border, being semi-transparent, or being highlighted to indicate that one or more of the specified data objects in the merged identification set are stored on the second computer system and cannot currently be accessed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system having a processor and one or more computer readable media for querying networked computers about data objects distributed in a computer network, the computer system comprising:
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a processor; a network interface coupled to the processor that enables the computer system to communicate with a local computer system, a first computer system, and a second computer system in the computer network; a user interface module; a replication data structure that contains an indication of replicated data objects; and a content query service module that, receives a request to identify specified data objects in accordance with a criterion from a user through the user interface module, queries the local computer system for a plurality of specified data objects, receives an indication that a first specified data object is stored on the local computer system such that the first specified data object is included in a local identification set, queries the first computer system for a second specified data object in response to receiving the indication that the second specified data object is not stored on the local computer system such that the first computer system is not queried for the specified data objects that correspond to the specified data objects in the local identification set stored on the local computer system, obtains a first identification set that includes the second specified data object stored at the first computer system, queries the second computer system for a third specified data object, determines that the second computer system is not currently available, recalls a previously stored content request for the second computer system, wherein the previously stored content request result is a second identification set that includes the third specified data object, maintains only one identification for a replicated data object that is contained in more than one of the first identification set and the second identification set, and merges the local identification set, the first identification set, and the second identification set to form a merged identification set; a display module that displays the merged identification set, wherein the specified data objects in the second identification set are visually distinguished from the specified data objects in the first identification set by one or more of a dotted border, being semi-transparent, or being highlighted to indicate that one or more of the specified data objects in the merged identification set are stored on the second computer system and cannot currently be accessed. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon in a local computer system connected to a computer network, said instructions configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
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(a) obtaining a request to identify specified data objects in accordance with a criterion; (b) after querying the local computer system for a first specified data object and a second specified data object, receiving an indication that the first specified data object is stored on the local computer system and that the second specified data object is not stored on the local computer system such that a local identification set includes the first specified data object; (c) querying a first computer system and a second computer system for the second specified data object and a third specified data object such that the first computer system and the second computer system are not queried for the specified data objects that correspond to the specified data objects in the local identification set; (d) receiving a first identification set corresponding to the first computer system and a second identification set corresponding to the second computer system such that one or more of the first computer system or the second computer system has stored the second specified data object; (e) querying a previously networked computing system for the third specified data object; (f) determining that the previously networked computing system is not currently available; (g) recalling a previously stored content request result for the previously networked computing system, wherein the previously stored content request result is a third identification set of the specified data objects that includes the third specified data object; (h) if more than one of the first identification set, the second identification set, and the third identification set contain corresponding identification of a replicated data object, maintaining only one identification for the replicated data object; (i) merging the local identification set, the first identification set, the second identification set, and the third identification set to form a merged identification set of the specified data objects; and (j) displaying the merged identification set, wherein the specified data objects in the third identification set are visually distinguished from the specified data objects in the first and second identification sets by one or more of a dotted border, being semi-transparent, or being highlighted to indicate that one or more of the specified data objects in the merged identification set are stored on the previously networked computing system and cannot currently be accessed.
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Specification