Abstract: In one embodiment, a proxy receives, from a client node, a file to be stored by a cloud storage server, where the proxy and the client node are part of a private network that does not include the cloud storage server. The proxy retrieves an encryption key associated with a user of the client node and encrypts the file using the encryption key. The proxy then transmits the encrypted file to the cloud storage server.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a computer system creates a first template VM that includes a first OS VMDK and a first software binary VMDK, and clones the first template VM to create a linked clone VM. The linked clone VM executes a guest OS by accessing the first OS VMDK and a software application by accessing the first software binary VMDK. The computer system further creates a second template VM that includes a second software binary VMDK, where the second software binary VMDK includes one or more upgrades to the software application that are not included in the first software binary VMDK. The computer system then detaches the first software binary VMDK from the linked clone VM and attaches the second software binary VMDK to the linked clone VM. The linked clone VM thereafter executes the software application by accessing the second software binary VMDK.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a client node generates a listing of files associated with a user account, where the listing includes one or more files that are stored remotely on a server system without being synchronized to local storage of the client node. The client node further receives a request to access a file from the listing and determines whether the file is stored locally on the client node. If the file is not stored locally on the client node, the client node discovers peer client nodes that are coupled with the client node and determines whether the file is stored locally on any peer client node. If the file is stored locally on a peer client node, the client node retrieves the file from the peer client node. If the file is not stored locally on any peer client node, the client node retrieves the file from the server system.

Abstract: A computer of a data storage system carries out user input-output requests for data of a set of virtual disks by performing back-end input-output requests to a set of overprovisioned storage devices providing underlying physical storage. A set of time series of utilization measures are continually generated and stored, with each reflecting an amount of a given virtual disk consumed by user data at a given time. The time series are used to generate predicted utilization measures, each being an estimate of an amount of a given virtual disk expected to be consumed by user data at a future time. A fullness probability measure is generated by aggregating the predicted utilization measures, and it reflects a probability that the set of overprovisioned storage devices will be fully consumed by user data at the future time.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality are presented. In embodiments, a file synchronization system comprises one or more folders associated with one or more non-shared encryption keys, which may be a managed key shared across an organization, and/or a personal key that is not shared or has limited third-party sharing. The one or more non-shared encryption keys are not known to the data storage service. The file synchronization system may also include one or more folders associated with a shared encryption key that is shared with the data storage service, and in embodiments, with a set of users of the service. The system may include a mapping correlating folders to encryption type so items in each folder can be handled appropriately. The system may have additional folders, such as one or more public folders that may be available with limited or no restrictions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality are presented. In embodiments, a file synchronization system comprises one or more folders associated with one or more non-shared encryption keys, which may be a managed key shared across an organization, and/or a personal key that is not shared or has limited third-party sharing. The one or more non-shared encryption keys are not known to the data storage service. The file synchronization system may also include one or more folders associated with a shared encryption key that is shared with the data storage service, and in embodiments, with a set of users of the service. The system may include a mapping correlating folders to encryption type so items in each folder can be handled appropriately. The system may have additional folders, such as one or more public folders that may be available with limited or no restrictions.

Abstract: A technique controls access to a file. The technique involves creating a file encryption key based on (i) a user input parameter (e.g., a user password) from a user of the client device and (ii) an automatically generated salt parameter (e.g., a random number). The technique further involves encrypting the file using the file encryption key to form an encrypted copy of the file, and providing the salt parameter to an external storage system to externally store the salt parameter. Access to data within the encrypted copy of the file requires the salt parameter provided to the external storage system.

Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to enhance search queries to include task-related search criteria that improve relevance of search results. The task-related information can also be used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality are presented. In embodiments, a file synchronization system comprises one or more folders associated with one or more non-shared encryption keys, which may be a managed key shared across an organization, and/or a personal key that is not shared or has limited third-party sharing. The one or more non-shared encryption keys are not known to the data storage service. The file synchronization system may also contain one or more folders associated with a shared encryption key that is shared with the data storage service, and in embodiments, with a set of users of the service. The system may include a mapping correlating folders to encryption type so items in each folder can be handled appropriately. The system may have additional folders, such as one or more public folders that may be available with limited or no restrictions.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing privacy of file synchronization with sharing functionality are presented. In embodiments, a file synchronization system comprises one or more folders associated with one or more non-shared encryption keys, which may be a managed key shared across an organization, and/or a personal key that is not shared or has limited third-party sharing. The one or more non-shared encryption keys are not known to the data storage service. The file synchronization system may also contain one or more folders associated with a shared encryption key that is shared with the data storage service, and in embodiments, with a set of users of the service. The system may include a mapping correlating folders to encryption type so items in each folder can be handled appropriately. The system may have additional folders, such as one or more public folders that may be available with limited or no restrictions.

Abstract: Storing data includes encoding the data using an erasure encoding to provide encoded data, separating the encoded data into a number of components, and providing each of the components to separate data sites. The data may be encoded using a Reed/Solomon encoding. The data may be encoded using a 3-1 Reed/Solomon encoding and the encoded data may be separated into four components that are provided to four separate sites. The data may be encoded by a site that receives the data prior to encoding. The data may be encoded by a client that provides the data to a plurality of sites coupled thereto. Storing data may also include each of the separate data sites providing an additional encoding for the components. The data and the components may be encoded using a Reed/Solomon encoding.

Abstract: An improved technique transmits data acquired with a smartphone to a remote storage server while the smartphone acquires additional data. For example, a user wishing to record a live scene with a smartphone camera establishes a connection with a remote storage server with which the user has an account. Once the connection is established and the user begins recording the live scene, the smartphone generates video data from images of the recorded live scene and places some predetermined amount of acquired video data into a data packet. The smartphone then sends the data packet to the remote storage server over the connection. As the data packet is being sent, the smartphone places another predetermined amount of acquired data. Because the predetermined amount of data is very small, the net amount of data stored is limited by the available space on the remote storage server rather than the local hard drive of the smartphone.

Abstract: Synchronizing resources shared among a plurality of devices includes determining access information about each of the resources, determining activity for each of the resources on at least a subset of the devices based on the access information, estimating future use of the devices, providing an estimate of a desire to have particular resources on particular devices according to the activity and future use, and synchronizing resources according to the estimate of a desire to have particular resources on particular devices. The resources may be data files. Access information may include information about when the resources were read and/or may include information about when the resources were renamed, created, and modified. Estimating a desire to have particular resources on particular devices may take into account a user's desire to maintain backup files and/or maintain certain types of files on certain devices.

Abstract: A backup site and a client are coupled to a network and the backup site obtains backup data for the client using a portable storage device by providing a direct coupling between the portable storage device and the backup site. The portable storage device contains full backup data for the client. The direct coupling is separate from the network. Full backup data is uploaded from the portable storage device to the backup site via the direct coupling. At least one incremental backup, based on the prior full backup, is performed to transfer data from the client to the backup site through the network. The network may be the Internet. The direct coupling may be USB, Firewire, or eSATA. Only a subset of data corresponding to a backup dataset may be provided on the portable storage device. Data on the portable storage device may be encrypted.

Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task. The task-related information can also be used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by enhancing search queries to include task-related search criteria.

Abstract: Methods for using task-related information to enhance digital searching are provided. A task-oriented user activity system maintains task-related information about resources accessed by a user and current user task. This task-related information is used to include task-related metadata in search engine index, e.g., by storing the metadata in the index or by storing it in resources which are subsequently indexed. Task-related information can also be used to enhance search results by filtering and ranking results to increase relevance with respect to a user's current task and/or to enhance search queries to include task-related search criteria.

Abstract: Backing up data from a client includes providing a direct coupling between the client and a portable storage device, copying full backup data from the client to the portable storage device using the direct coupling, and performing at least one incremental backup from the client to the backup site through a network that is separate from the direct coupling. The at least one incremental backup is based on the prior full backup. The network may be the Internet. Following copying full backup data to the portable storage device, the portable storage device may be shipped from the client to the backup site. The direct coupling may be USB, Firewire, or eSATA. Only a subset of data corresponding to a backup dataset may be copied from the client to the portable storage device.

Abstract: A data storage and retrieval system with optimized categorization of information items using intelligent category selection, based on the information items that are to be checked for category membership. The set of categories for which an information item may be a candidate member is determined, and only that set of categories is checked for membership of the information item during the categorization process. The determination of which categories an information item can be a candidate member of is based on the properties defined for that information item, which are compared to the properties checked for category membership of specific categories. A category index tree may be built and maintained to support efficient determination of which categories a given information item may be a candidate member of. The efficiency of categorization provided by the disclosed techniques enables the disclosed system to maintain category definitions indefinitely with minimal performance impact.