Methods and systems for managing data

• US 8,190,638 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 05/29/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Giampaolo, Dominic, Arrouye, Yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Tim T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meng, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/646,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20070112743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,980 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 707/785
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/14 Details of searching files based on file metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156

Abstract

A search is performed based on a search query of at least metadata of a first plurality of files and a set of a permissions is determined for a first user, wherein the set of permissions defines at least a right to view information. Results of the search are displayed based upon the set of permissions. In the metadata database, there is metadata from a number of files of different types. The type of information in metadata for a first type of file differs from a type of information in metadata for a second type of file.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

generating, using one or more processing units, a permissions cache for a plurality of files, wherein the permissions cache includes a permissions entry for one or more files;

receiving, using the one or more processing units, one or more notifications corresponding to a permissions change associated with a searchable file;

marking, using the one or more processing units, a permissions entry in the permissions cache associated with the searchable file, wherein the permissions entry is marked as invalid based upon the notification;

receiving, using the one or more processing units, a search query for searching through the plurality of files, wherein the search query is associated with a set of permissions;

generating, using the one or more processing units, search results using the search query, wherein the search results include all possible matches in the plurality of files without regard to permissions, and wherein the search results include the searchable file;

determining, using the one or more processing units, permissions for the searchable file, wherein the determined permissions are retrieved from a file system;

updating, using the one or more processing units, the permissions entry in the permissions cache associated with the searchable file using the determined permissions from the file system;

generating, using the one or more processing units, an updated permissions cache, wherein the permissions entry associated with the searchable file is marked as valid;

filtering, using the one or more processing units, the search results using the updated permissions cache, wherein the filtered search results are consistent with the set of permissions associated with the search query; and

displaying, using the one or more processing units, the filtered search results.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating search results and updating the permissions entry are performed concurrently.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, using the one or more processing units, permissions for a file in the search results that does not have a corresponding permissions entry in the permissions cache, wherein the determined permissions are retrieved from a file system; and

using, using the one or more processing units, the determined permissions to add a permissions entry to the permissions cache for the file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein filtering the search results and displaying the filtered search results are performed concurrently.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein multiple permissions caches are generated.

6. A system, comprising:

one or more processors;

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations, including;

generating a permissions cache for a plurality of files, wherein the permissions cache includes a permissions entry for one or more files;

receiving one or more notifications corresponding to a permissions change associated with a searchable file;

marking a permissions entry in the permissions cache associated with the searchable file, wherein the permissions entry is marked as invalid based upon the notification;

receiving a search query for searching through the plurality of files, wherein the search query is associated with a set of permissions;

generating search results using the search query, wherein the search results include all possible matches in the plurality of files without regard to permissions, and wherein the search results include the searchable file;

determining permissions for the searchable file, wherein the determined permissions are retrieved from a file system;

updating the permissions entry in the permissions cache associated with the searchable file using the determined permissions from the file system;

generating an updated permissions cache, wherein the permissions entry associated with the searchable the is marked as valid;

filtering the search results using the updated permissions cache, wherein the filtered search results are consistent with the set of permissions associated with the search query; and

displaying the filtered search results.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein generating search results and updating the permissions entry are performed concurrently.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform operations, including:

determining permissions for a file in the search results that does not have a corresponding permissions entry in the permissions cache, wherein the determined permissions are retrieved from a file system; and

using the determined permissions to add a permissions entry to the permissions cache for the file.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein filtering the search results and displaying the filtered search results are performed concurrently.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein multiple permissions caches are generated.

11. A computer-program product, embodied in a non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, including instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

generate a permissions cache for a plurality of files, wherein the permissions cache includes a permissions entry for one or more files;

receive one or more notifications corresponding to a permissions change associated with a searchable file;

mark a permissions entry in the permissions cache associated with the searchable file, wherein the permissions entry is marked as invalid based upon the notification;

receive a search query for searching through the plurality of files, wherein the search query is associated with a set of permissions;

generate search results using the search query, wherein the search results include all possible matches in the plurality of files without regard to permissions, and wherein the search results include the searchable file;

determine permissions for the searchable file, wherein the determined permissions are retrieved from a file system;

update the permissions entry in the permissions cache associated with the searchable file using the determined permissions from the file system;

generate an updated permissions cache, wherein the permissions entry associated with the searchable file is marked as valid;

filter the search results using the updated permissions cache, wherein the filtered search results are consistent with the set of permissions associated with the search query; and

display the filtered search results.

12. The computer-program product of claim 11, wherein generating search results and updating the permissions entry are performed concurrently.

13. The computer-program product of claim 11, further comprising instructions configured to cause a data processing apparatus to:

determine permissions for a file in the search results that does not have a corresponding permissions entry in the permissions cache, wherein the determined permissions are retrieved from a file system; and

use the determined permissions to add a permissions entry to the permissions cache for the file.

14. The computer-program product of claim 11, wherein filtering the search results and displaying the filtered search results are performed concurrently.

15. The computer-program product of claim 11, wherein multiple permissions caches are generated.