Internet storage manipulation and navigation system

• US 6,519,612 B1
• Filed: 08/09/2000
• Issued: 02/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 1 Vision Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: 1 Vision Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Godwin, Kurt E., Gandee, John J., Howard, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ALAM, HOSAIN T
• Application Number:
  US09/635,060
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 707/100-102, 707/200-204, 707/1-3, 707/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1446 Point-in-time backing up or restoration of persistent data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/32 with visual or acoustical indication of the functioning of the machine
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3476 Data logging G06F11/14, G06F11/2205 take precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/188 Virtual file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/192 Implementing virtual folder structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

The parallel virtual directory system can extend the native file system to provide a superior method for organizing a computer system'"'"'s physical storage devices or locations. These can include hard disks and removable media or remote storage locations such as on the Internet. Interceptor modules can monitor all file or memory changes such as creations, writes and deletes to the native file system and can pass this information to the parallel virtual directory system. The parallel virtual directory system may be accessed through the native file system methods allowing users to view their file system as it existed at any point in time, including removable media that is no longer present in the System Further, via the parallel virtual directory system and the Interceptor modules, users can access any file in any of the monitored file systems. The parallel virtual directory system may be implemented using database technology thereby allowing multiple views of the parallel virtual directory system to be offered to the user based on their needs and can thus be used to ease navigation through the file system. Further, a set of information management processes can run at the application level providing data management services such as backup, archiving, recording of digital video programming, or even controlled playback or utilization of that information. The information management processes can configure the parallel virtual directory system to capture the information they require and use the gathered information to efficiently complete their data management functions.

Claims

1. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus comprising:

a. at least one remote storage element which stores at least one file for use by a computer system;

b. at least one native file directory which provides directory information of said at least one remote storage element;

c. at least one second file directory which provides at least a portion of the directory information of the at least one native file directory and which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory;

d. a connection element which establishes an accessible condition of said at least one remote storage element;

wherein said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory are capable of containing common file information.

2. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least second file directory comprises at least one virtual file directory.

3. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one remote storage element comprises at least one remote storage medium.

4. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one remote storage element comprises at least one remote storage device.

5. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said at least one remote storage element comprises at least one Internet storage element.

6. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said at least one Internet storage element is an Internet storage medium, an Internet storage device or an Internet storage site.

7. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said connection element comprises an Internet connection.

8. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 or 7 wherein said connection element comprises an automatic connection element.

9. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 8 further comprising a determine element which determines whether said at least one Internet storage element is in an accessible condition.

10. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 9 wherein said at least one Internet storage element is accessible to said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory.

11. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a prompt element which prompts an operator to connect said at least one Internet storage element.

12. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 7 wherein said Internet connection is an input/output of a computer system, an interceptor element, an information management process, a computer system application program or a private interface.

13. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 1, 5 or 7 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

14. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein said connection element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

15. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a designate element which designates at least one Internet storage element and a monitor element to monitor for changes to files stored on said designated at least one Internet storage element.

16. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 15 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

17. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said designate element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

18. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a monitor element which monitors for an accessible condition of said at least one Internet storage element.

19. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 18 wherein said at least one Internet storage element is accessible to said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory.

20. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 18 or 19 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

21. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 20 wherein said monitor element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

22. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a retrieve element which retrieves information about said at least one Internet storage element.

23. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 22 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

24. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 23 wherein said retrieve element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

25. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising an update element which updates said at least one second file directory with changed directory information of said at least one Internet storage element.

26. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 25 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

27. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 26 wherein said update element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

28. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a monitor element which monitors for changes made to said at least one native directory.

29. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 28 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

30. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 29 wherein said monitor element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

31. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a presentation element which presents directory information for said at least one Internet storage element.

32. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 31 wherein said presentation element presents directory information for said at least one Internet storage element in a non-accessible condition.

33. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 31 or 32 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

34. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 33 wherein said presentation element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

35. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a upload element which saves at least one file to said at least one Internet storage element.

36. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a upload element which saves at least a portion of file information to said at least one Internet storage element.

37. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a retrieve element which retrieves at least one file presented by said at least one second directory.

38. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising a retrieve element which retrieves at least a portion of file information presented by said at least one second directory.

39. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 35, 36, 37 or 38 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

40. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 39 wherein said upload element and said retrieve element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

41. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 further comprising an operating system of a computer system which is capable of accomplishing input/output procedures through said at least one second file directory.

42. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said at least one second file directory appears to an operating system of a computer system as at least one physical, locally attached device.

43. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises at least one non-hierarchical and redefinable file directory.

44. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said at least one native file directory comprises a native directory system.

45. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said at least one second file directory and said at least one native file directory are accessible to at least one computer system application program.

46. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said at least one Internet storage element is accessible to said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory.

47. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 5 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises at least one configurable database capable of storing at least a portion of file attribute information of said at least one Internet storage element.

48. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 46 further comprising at least one sort element capable of manipulating said at least one configurable database.

49. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 48 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

50. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 49 wherein said sort element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

51. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 48 wherein said at least one configurable database comprises at least one database configurable to comprises at least one non-name file attribute field.

52. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 51 further comprising a reconfigure element to which said at least one second file directory is responsive.

53. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 52 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

54. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 53 wherein said reconfigure element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

55. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 48 wherein said at least one sort element is capable of manipulating said at least one configurable database based upon at least one non-name file attribute field.

56. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 47 further comprising at least one filter element capable of filtering file attribute information stored in said at least one configurable database.

57. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 56 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

58. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 57 wherein said filter element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

59. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 56 wherein said at least one filter element is capable of filtering non-name file attribute information.

60. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 43 further comprising a redefine element to which said at least one second file directory is responsive after a first hierarchy of the second file directory is established.

61. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 60 wherein said at least one second file directory comprises a second file directory system.

62. A remote storage manipulation and navigation apparatus as described in claim 61 wherein said connection element comprises at least one program code module of said second directory system.

63. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory, the method comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a connection with at least one remote storage element having at least one file to provide an accessible condition of said at least one remote storage element;

b. inputting to said at least one native file directory directory information of said at least one remote storage element;

c. inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory at least a portion of the directory information stored on said at least one native file directory;

wherein said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory are capable of containing common file information.

64. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 63 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory comprises inputting to at least one virtual file directory.

65. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 63 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one remote storage element comprises establishing a connection with at least one remote storage medium.

66. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 63 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one remote storage element comprises establishing a connection with at least one remote storage device.

67. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 63 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one remote storage element comprises establishing a connection with at least one Internet storage element.

68. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one Internet storage element comprises establishing a connection with at least one Internet storage medium, at least one Internet storage device or at least one Internet storage site.

69. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one Internet storage element comprises establishing an Internet connection.

70. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 or 69 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one Internet storage element comprises automatically establishing a connection.

71. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising before the step of establishing a connection with at least one remote storage element the step of determining whether said at least one Internet storage element is in an accessible condition.

72. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 71 wherein the step of determining whether said at least one Internet storage element is in an accessible condition comprises the step of determining whether said at least one Internet storage element is accessible to said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory.

73. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one remote storage element comprises prompting an operator to establish a connection with said at least one Internet storage element.

74. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 69 wherein said step of establishing an Internet connection comprises establishing an Internet connection with an input/output of a computer system, an interceptor element, an information management process, a computer system application program or a private interface.

75. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 63, 67 or 69 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

76. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 75 wherein said step of establishing a connection with at least one remote storage element comprises establishing a connection with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

77. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising the steps of designating at least one Internet storage element and monitoring said designated at least one Internet storage element for changes to files stored on said at least one Internet storage element.

78. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 77 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

79. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 78 wherein said steps of designating at least one Internet storage element and monitoring said designated at least one Internet storage element comprises designating at least one Internet storage element and monitoring said designated at least one Internet storage element with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

80. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of monitoring for an accessible condition of said at least one Internet storage element.

81. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 80 wherein said step of monitoring for an accessible condition of said at least one Internet storage element comprises monitoring for an accessible condition to said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory.

82. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 80 or 81 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

83. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 82 wherein said step of monitoring for an accessible condition of said at least one Internet storage element comprises monitoring for an accessible condition of said at least one Internet storage element with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

84. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of retrieving information about said at least one Internet storage element.

85. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 84 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

86. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 85 wherein said step of retrieving information about said at least one Internet storage element comprises retrieving information about said at least one Internet storage element with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

87. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of updating said at least one second file directory with changed directory information of said at least one Internet storage element.

88. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 87 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

89. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 88 wherein said step of updating said at least one second file directory with changed directory information of said at least one Internet storage element comprises updating said at least one second file directory with changed directory information of said at least one Internet storage element with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

90. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of monitoring for changes made to said at least one native directory.

91. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 90 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

92. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 91 wherein said step of monitoring for changes made to said at least one native directory comprises monitoring for changes made to said at least one native directory with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

93. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of presenting directory information for said at least one Internet storage element.

94. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 93 wherein said step of presenting directory information for said at least one Internet storage element comprises presenting directory information for said at least one Internet storage element when said at least one Internet storage element is in a non-accessible condition.

95. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 93 or 94 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

96. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 95 wherein said step of presenting directory information for said at least one Internet storage element comprises presenting directory information for said at least one Internet storage element with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

97. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of uploading at least one file to said at least one Internet storage element.

98. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of uploading at least a portion of file information to said at least one Internet storage element.

99. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of retrieving at least a file presented by said at least one second directory.

100. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of retrieving at least a portion of file information presented by said at least one second directory.

101. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 97, 98, 99 or 100 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

102. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native fie directory as described in claim 101 wherein said steps of uploading and retrieving comprises uploading and retrieving with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

103. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of inputting and outputting with an operating system of a computer system through said at least one second file directory.

104. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 wherein further comprising after said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory at least a portion of the directory information stored on said at least one native file directory a step of presenting said at least one second file directory to an operating system of a computer system as at least one physical, locally attached device.

105. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to at least one non-hierarchical and redefinable file directory.

106. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 wherein said step of inputting to said at least one native file directory directory information of said at least one remote storage element comprises inputting to a native directory system.

107. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising making accessible said at least one second file directory and said at least one native file directory to at least one computer system application program.

108. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising making accessible said at least one Internet storage element to said at least one native file directory and said at least one second file directory.

109. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 67 further comprising a step of storing at least a portion of file attribute information of said at least one Internet storage element in at least one configurable database of said at least one second file directory.

110. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 109 further comprising a step of sorting said at least one configurable database.

111. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 110 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

112. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 111 wherein said step of sorting said at least one configurable database comprises sorting with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

113. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 110 further comprising a step of configuring said at least one configurable database based upon at least one non-name file attribute field.

114. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 113 further comprising a step of reconfiguring said at least one second file directory.

115. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 114 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

116. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 115 wherein said step of configuring and said step of reconfiguring comprises configuring and reconfiguring with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

117. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 110 wherein said step of sorting said at least one configurable database comprises manipulating said at least one configurable database based upon at least one non-name file attribute field.

118. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 109 further comprising a step of filtering at least a portion of file attribute information stored in said at least one configurable database.

119. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 118 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

120. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 119 wherein said step of filtering at least a portion of file attribute information comprises filtering at least a portion of file attribute information with at least one program code module of said second directory system.

121. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 118 wherein said step of filtering at least a portion of file attribute information comprises filtering non-name file attribute information.

122. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 105 further comprising the steps of establishing a hierarchy of said at least one second file directory and redefining said at least one second file directory after a hierarchy of the second file directory is established.

123. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 122 wherein said step of inputting to at least one second file directory which provides capability beyond said at least one native file directory comprises inputting to a second file directory system.

124. A method of remote storage manipulation and navigation utilizing at least one native file directory as described in claim 123 wherein said steps of establishing a hierarchy and redefining said at least one second file directory comprises establishing a hierarchy and defining said at least one second file directory with at least one program code module of said second directory system.