Abstract: The present invention provides a novel client side caching (CSC) infrastructure that supports transition states at the directory level to facilitate a seamless operation across connectivity states between client and remote server. More specifically, persistent caching is performed to safeguard the user (e.g., client) and/or the client applications across connectivity interruptions and/or bandwidth changes. This is accomplished in part by caching to a client data store the desirable file(s) together with the appropriate file access parameters. Moreover, the client maintains access to cached files during periods of disconnect. Furthermore, portions of a path can be offline while other portions upstream can remain online. CSC operates on the logical path which cooperates with DFS which operates on the physical path to keep track of files cached, accessed and changes in the directories. In addition, truth on the client is facilitated whether or not a conflict of file copies exists.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel client side caching (CSC) infrastructure that supports transition states at the directory level to facilitate a seamless operation across connectivity states between client and remote server. More specifically, persistent caching is performed to safeguard the user (e.g., client) and/or the client applications across connectivity interruptions and/or bandwidth changes. This is accomplished in part by caching to a client data store the desirable file(s) together with the appropriate file access parameters. Moreover, the client maintains access to cached files during periods of disconnect. Furthermore, portions of a path can be offline while other portions upstream can remain online. CSC operates on the logical path which cooperates with DFS which operates on the physical path to keep track of files cached, accessed and changes in the directories. In addition, truth on the client is facilitated whether or not a conflict of file copies exists.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a system and method for managing and evicting objects stored in a cache. The invention provides a mechanism for determining which objects to evict based on a weight that is calculated for each object stored in the cache. The weight is determined by at least two factors, including file size, file type, primary user, last access time, and the like, and by the relative importance of each of the factors. The weight for each object may be determined autonomously and/or may be determined upon a trigger event. The factors and their relative importance may be obtained from a policy applicable to one or several computers.

Abstract: A system and method that automatically and transparently handle client-side caching of network file data, independent of any remote file handling protocol. A protocol-independent client-side caching mechanism is inserted as a service that handles file-related requests directed to a network, and attempts to satisfy the requests via a client-side caching persistent store. By way of pre-process and post-process calls on a file create request, the caching mechanism creates file-related data structures, and overwrites the information in those structures that a buffering service uses to call back to a network redirector, whereby the client-side caching mechanism inserts itself into the communication flow between the network redirector and the buffering service.