Method and system for creating and maintaining version-specific properties in a file
First Claim
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1. A computer implemented method of providing a file stored in a computer implemented system with version information relating to a replicator application that is independent from an application used to create the file, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from the replicator application to create a version-specific property that is stored as part of the file, wherein the version-specific property comprises version information relating to the version of the replicator application used to create the version-specific property and wherein the replicator application creates redundant copies of files for back-up or performance purposes;
creating the version-specific property that is stored as part of the file;
maintaining the version-specific property to reflect relevant updates to the file by automatically invalidating the version information in response to a predetermined event, wherein the version-specific property comprises mask information providing information related to the predetermined events that invalidate the version information;
receiving a request from the replicator application to evaluate the version-specific property;
evaluating the version-specific property; and
providing the version information to the replicator application in response to the request to evaluate the version-specific property.
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Abstract
A method and system creates and maintains a version-specific attribute or property that is stored as part of a file in a file system, contains specific version information relating to how or when the attribute was created and is automatically invalidated when a predetermined “update” event occurs. Third party applications generally create and access these versions-specific attributes to thereby eliminate the need for external logs or databases to store persistent state information.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A computer implemented method of providing a file stored in a computer implemented system with version information relating to a replicator application that is independent from an application used to create the file, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from the replicator application to create a version-specific property that is stored as part of the file, wherein the version-specific property comprises version information relating to the version of the replicator application used to create the version-specific property and wherein the replicator application creates redundant copies of files for back-up or performance purposes; creating the version-specific property that is stored as part of the file; maintaining the version-specific property to reflect relevant updates to the file by automatically invalidating the version information in response to a predetermined event, wherein the version-specific property comprises mask information providing information related to the predetermined events that invalidate the version information; receiving a request from the replicator application to evaluate the version-specific property; evaluating the version-specific property; and providing the version information to the replicator application in response to the request to evaluate the version-specific property. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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2. A computer storage medium having stored thereon a data structure, wherein the data structure comprises:
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an actual file data section comprising actual file data for a file; a header section; a version-specific property section, wherein the version-specific property section is created by the replicator application which is independent from an application used to create the actual file data, wherein the version-specific property is stored as part of the file, and wherein the version-specific property comprises a version information section, a meta information section and a mask information section, the version information section providing information related to the version of the replicator application used to create the version-specific property, the mask information section providing information related to the predetermined events that invalidate the version-specific property, and wherein the version-specific property is invalidated in response to one of said predetermined events; and wherein the predetermined events comprise one from the group consisting of a modification of metadata associated with the file and a modification of the actual file data. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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3. A computer implemented method of providing a services layer with a virus-scan function for performing virus scanning and cleaning functions and for determining if virus scanning and cleaning functions will be performed on a file when the file is accessed by a processing application or module, the method comprising:
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accessing the file; performing virus scanning and cleaning functions on the file with the virus-scan function; receiving a request from the services layer to create a version-specific property that is stored as part of the file, wherein the version-specific property comprises version information relating to the version of the virus-scan function, and wherein the version-specific property is invalidated in response to one or more predetermined events; receiving a request from the processing application or module for accessing one or more files; determining whether a version-specific property is associated with the requested file; if a version-specific property is not associated with the requested file, performing virus scanning and cleaning functions on the requested file; if a version-specific property is associated with the requested file, determining if the associated version-specific property is valid; and if the associated version-specific property is not valid, performing virus scanning and cleaning functions on the requested file. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification