Method and system for file system synchronization between a central site and a plurality of remote sites

• US 20020111959A1
• Filed: 02/15/2001
• Published: 08/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hsiao, Eric, Ching, Jennie
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/201
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/182 Distributed file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A method and system of synchronizing files between a central site and a plurality of remote sites is disclosed. The method and system comprises providing a list of files to the plurality of remote sites by the central site, prior to a callback time of the remote sites and reporting which of the files are missing by each of the plurality of remote sites to the central site. The method and system further includes determining within the central site which of the files needs to be sent to each of the plurality of remote sites. Accordingly, a system and method in accordance with the present invention helps deliver content from a central site to multiple remote sites. A system and method in accordance with the present invention uses the DMD in conjunction with a software client described below to maintain the file synchronization between the central server and remote site servers.

Claims

1. A method of synchronizing files between a central site and a plurality of remote sites comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a list of files to the plurality of remote sites by the central site, prior to a callback time of the remote sites;

(b) reporting which of the files are missing by each of the plurality of remote sites to the central site; and

(c) determining within the central site which of the files needs to be sent to each of the plurality of remote sites.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the providing step (a) utilizes a file system synchronization (FSS) helper application.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the reporting step (b) utilizes a file system synchronization remote site operation mechanism.

4. The method of claim 1 in which the determining step (c) utilizes an automated central site operation mechanism.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the list of files comprises a loadlist.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein each of the files in the loadlist are date and time stamped.

7. A system for sychronizing files comprising:

a central site, the central site including a file system synchronization (FSS) helper application and an automated central site operations (ACSO) mechanism for transmitting the list of files; and

at least one remote site, the at least one remote site including a file system synchronization remote operating mechanism (FSS RSO), wherein the FSS RSO mechanism creates a group of files it will need based upon the transmitted files.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the list of files comprises a loadlist.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein each of the files in the loadlist are date stamped.

10. The computer readable medium containing program instructions for synchronizing files between a central site and a plurality of remote sites, the program instructions for:

(a) providing a list of files to the plurality of remote sites by the central site, prior to a callback time of the remote sites;

(b) reporting which of the files are missing by each of the plurality of remote sites to the central site; and

(c) determining within the central site which of the files needs to be sent to each of the plurality of remote sites.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 10 in which the providing step (a) utilizes a file system synchronization (FSS) helper application.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 10 in which the reporting step (b) utilizes a file system synchronization remote site operation mechanism.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 10 in which the determining step (c) utilizes an automated central site operation mechanism.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 14 wherein the list of files comprises a loadlist.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 10 wherein each of the files in the loadlist are date and time stamped.