Abstract: Managing data to provide a cloud-based service for a plurality of work sessions, including: receiving a request to create a work session that is represented by a collection of tables; creating a work session table stored on a session server; receiving a request to add a user to the work session; storing user data related to the work session for the user in a record in the user table of the work session table; receiving a request to add an application to the work session; storing application data for the application related to the work session in a record in the application table of the work session table; and creating a session log which preserves information indicating an activity related to the work session including adding, accessing, changing, removing a file, person, application, or resource. Key words include work session and data access.

Abstract: Retrieving a file using an index including: looking up the index which includes where a plurality of chunks of the file is stored; retrieving the plurality of chunks from a plurality of storage providers; and reassembling the a plurality of chunks to restore the file.

Abstract: Transcoding a file located within a network directly from a file identifier, including: retrieving the file using the file identifier; segmenting the file into a plurality of chunks; and transcoding the plurality of chunks using a distributed transcoder. Key words include segmenting and distributed transcoding.

Abstract: Uploading a file in a distributed manner to a server, including: dividing the file into a plurality of chunks; generating a plurality of aliases to a hostname corresponding to the server; and uploading the plurality of chunks to the plurality of aliases corresponding to the server. Key words include distributed uploading and aliases.

Abstract: Managing data, including: receiving a request to create a work session; creating a work session table stored on a session server, wherein the work session table includes a user table, a data table, and an application table; receiving a request to add a user to the work session; storing user data for the user in a record in the user table of the work session table; receiving a request to add an application to the work session; and storing application data for the application in a record in the application table of the work session table. Key words include work session and data access.

Abstract: Storing a file to prevent unauthorized reconstruction of the file, including: generating an index of the file; partitioning the file into a plurality of chunks, wherein the index of the file includes an assigned routing path for each of the plurality of chunks; and routing each chunk into an assigned storage provider through the assigned routing path. Key words include partitioning and index.