File handling within a cloud-based file system

• US 9,594,686 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 03/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Woodward, Joshua, Inaba, Kazuhiro, Moore, Kenneth Brian, Bhandarkar, Achuith, Tan, Kokkuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojas, Midys
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wei, Jane
• Application Number:
  US13/841,368
• Publication Number:
  US 20130297887A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0862 with prefetch
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/0866 for peripheral storage systems, e.g. disk cache
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/126 with special data handling, e.g. priority of data or instructions, handling errors or pinning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/172 Caching, prefetching or hoarding of files
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/183 Provision of network file services by network file servers, e.g. by using NFS, CIFS network file access protocols H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2212/463 File

Abstract

In one general aspect, a computer-readable storage medium can be configured to store instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to perform a process. The process can include establishing at least a portion of a communication link between a computing device and a storage system operating within a cloud environment. The process can include accessing a user interface including a listing of files representing a plurality of files where at least a first portion of the plurality of files are stored in a local memory of the computing device and a second portion of the plurality of files are stored in the storage system.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to perform a process, the process comprising:

establishing at least a portion of a communication link between a computing device and a storage system operating within a cloud environment;

receiving a request to open a first file stored on the storage system;

in response to the request to open the first file, caching the first file in a local memory of the computing device, the first file being cached with a timestamp and a first priority based on an attribute of the first file being a request to open the first file, and the timestamp used for determining an eviction order from the local memory of the first file with respect to other files cached with a first priority;

receiving a request that a second file stored on the storage system be available offline;

in response to the request that the second file be available offline, caching the second file in the local memory of the computing device, the second file being cached with a timestamp and a second priority based on an attribute of the second file being a request that the second file be available offline, the second priority being lower than the first priority and identifying the second file for eviction from the local memory before the first file, and the timestamp used for determining an eviction order from the local memory of the second file with respect to other files cached with a second priority;

associating a file attribute with a third file stored on the storage system, the file attribute being at least one of a last modified date and a last viewed date associated with the third file;

subsequent to caching the first file and the second file, selecting the third file for caching in the local memory of the computing device based on the file attribute associated with the third file; and

caching the third file in the local memory of the computing device with a timestamp and a third priority that is lower than the second priority, the third priority identifying the third file for eviction from the local memory before the second file, and the timestamp used for determining an eviction order from the local memory of the third file with respect to other files cached with a third priority.

2. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first file, the second file and the third file are cached in the local memory of the computing device based on their respective priorities and based on an amount of available file cache storage capacity in the local memory of the computing device.

3. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the process further comprising:

receiving a request to open a fourth file stored on the storage system; and

in response to receiving the request to the open the fourth file;

if caching the fourth file in the local memory of the computing device will exceed a file caching threshold, evicting the third file from the local memory of the computing device; and

caching the fourth file in the local memory of the computing device with the first priority.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the first file is one of a plurality of first files cached with the first priority, the plurality of files being cached in the local memory of the computing device in response to respective requests to open each of the plurality of files, each of the plurality of first files being cached with a timestamp and a first priority based on an attribute of the first file being a request to open the first file, the timestamp being used for determining an eviction order from the local memory of a particular first file included in the plurality of first files with respect to each of the plurality of first files.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, wherein the second file is one of a plurality of second files cached with the second priority, the plurality of files being cached in the local memory of the computing device in response to respective requests that each of the plurality of files be available offline, each of the plurality of second files being cached with a timestamp and a second priority based on an attribute of the second file being a request that the second file be available offline, the timestamp being used for determining an eviction order from the local memory of a particular second file included in the plurality of second files with respect to each of the plurality of second files.

6. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, further comprising:

associating a file attribute with a fourth file stored on the storage system, the file attribute being based on a relationship of the fourth file to one or more previously cached files on the computing device; and

subsequent to caching the first file, the second file, and the third file, selecting the fourth file for caching in the local memory of the computing device based on the file attribute associated with the fourth file.

7. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 1, the process further comprising:

receiving a request to open the third file from the local memory of the computing device;

changing the third file from the third priority to the first priority; and

changing a last viewed date of the third file.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions that when executed cause one or more processors to perform a process, the process comprising:

establishing at least a portion of a communication link between a computing device and a storage system operating within a cloud environment, the computing device including a local memory that is configured to cache files from the storage system; and

associating a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in a set of cached files stored in the local memory, the associating including;

associating a first file with a first caching priority based on an attribute of the first file being a request to open the first file;

associating a second file with a second caching priority based on an attribute of the second file being a request that the second file be available offline, the second caching priority being lower than the first caching priority;

receiving an indication that a file caching threshold of the local memory of the computing device has been met or exceeded; and

in response to the indication,

identifying a first subset of the set of cached files, each file included in the first subset of the set of cached files being associated with the first caching priority;

identifying a second subset of the set of cached files, each file included in the second subset of the set of cached files associated with the second caching priority, files associated with the second caching priority being identified for eviction from the local memory before files associated with the first caching priority; and

evicting, until an eviction threshold is met, at least a portion of the set of cached files from the local memory, the evicting including;

evicting the files included in the second subset of files in an order based on the timestamp associated with each file; and

subsequent to evicting the files included in the second subset of files, evicting the files included in the first subset of files in an order based on the timestamp associated with each file.

9. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8,

wherein associating a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in the set of cached files stored in the local memory further includes:

associating a third file with a third caching priority based on an attribute of the third file being at least one of a last modified date and a last viewed date associated with the third file, the third caching priority being lower than the second caching priority;

associating a fourth file with a fourth caching priority based on an attribute of the fourth file being a date that the fourth file was shared, the fourth caching priority being lower than the third caching priority; and

associating a fifth file with a fifth caching priority based on an attribute of the fifth file being a relationship in the storage system of the fifth file to at least one of the first file, the second file, the third file and the fourth file, the fifth caching priority being lower than the fourth caching priority.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the evicting further including:

requesting confirmation from a user prior to evicting each of the identified files from the first subset of files or the second subset of files.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, the process further comprising:

receiving a request to access a particular file of the set of cached files, the particular file for which access is requested being associated with the second caching priority; and

in response to the request, changing the caching priority associated with the particular file for which access is requested to the first caching priority.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the storage system operates as a primary storage system for the computing device.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein associating a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in a set of cached files stored in the local memory further includes:

associating a third file with the second caching priority based on an attribute of the third file being the most recently accessed file stored in the local memory of the computing device.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein associating a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in a set of cached files stored in the local memory further includes:

associating a third file with the second caching priority based on an attribute of the third file being an instruction received from the computing device.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

establishing, by a computing device, at least a portion of a communication link between the computing device and a storage system operating within a cloud environment, the computing device including a local memory that is configured to cache files from the storage system;

associating, by the computing device, a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in a set of cached files stored in the local memory, the associating including;

associating a first file with a first caching priority based on an attribute of the first file being a request to open the first file;

associating a second file with a second caching priority based on an attribute of the second file being a request that the second file be available offline, the second caching priority being lower than the first caching priority;

receiving an indication that a file caching threshold of the local memory of the computing device has been met or exceeded; and

in response to the indication,

identifying a first subset of the set of cached files, each file included in the first subset of the set of cached files being associated with the first caching priority;

identifying a second subset of the set of cached files, each file included in the second subset of the set of cached files associated with the second caching priority, files associated with the second caching priority being identified for eviction from the local memory before files associated with the first caching priority; and

evicting, until an eviction threshold is met, at least a portion of the set of cached files from the local memory, the evicting including;

evicting the files included in the second subset of files in an order based on the timestamp associated with each file; and

subsequent to evicting the files included in the second subset of files, evicting the files included in the first subset of files in an order based on the timestamp associated with each file.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein associating a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in the set of cached files stored in the local memory further includes:

associating a third file with a third caching priority based on an attribute of the third file being at least one of a last modified date and a last viewed date associated with the third file, the third caching priority being lower than the second caching priority;

associating a fourth file with a fourth caching priority based on an attribute of the fourth file being a date that the fourth file was shared, the fourth caching priority being lower than the third caching priority; and

associating a fifth file with a fifth caching priority based on an attribute of the fifth file being a relationship in the storage system of the fifth file to at least one of the first file, the second file, the third file and the fourth file, the fifth caching priority being lower than the fourth caching priority.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, the evicting further including:

requesting confirmation from a user prior to evicting each of the identified files from the first subset of files or the second subset of files.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

receiving a request to access a particular file of the set of cached files, the particular file for which access is requested being associated with the second caching priority; and

in response to the request, changing the caching priority associated with the particular file for which access is requested to the first caching priority.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the storage system operates as a primary storage system for the computing device.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein associating a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in a set of cached files stored in the local memory further includes:

associating a third file with the second caching priority based on an attribute of the third file being the most recently accessed file stored in the local memory of the computing device.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein associating a caching priority and a timestamp with each file included in a set of cached files stored in the local memory further includes:

associating a third file with the second caching priority based on an attribute of the third file being an instruction received from the computing device.