Patents by Inventor Robert S. Mason, Jr.

Robert S. Mason, Jr. has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230409433
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. At a first time, an interface creates and exports to a cloud data store a first structured data representation corresponding to a first version of the local file system. The first structured data representation is an XML tree having a root element, one or more directory elements associated with the root element, and one or more file elements associated with a given directory element. Upon a change within the file system, the interface creates and exports a second structured data representation corresponding to a second version of the file system. The second structured data representation differs from the first structured data representation up to and including the root element of the second structured data representation. The interface continues to generate and export the structured data representations to the data store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11748201
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. At a first time, an interface creates and exports to a cloud data store a first structured data representation corresponding to a first version of the local file system. The first structured data representation is an XML tree having a root element, one or more directory elements associated with the root element, and one or more file elements associated with a given directory element. Upon a change within the file system, the interface creates and exports a second structured data representation corresponding to a second version of the file system. The second structured data representation differs from the first structured data representation up to and including the root element of the second structured data representation. The interface continues to generate and export the structured data representations to the data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11681584
    Abstract: An interface between an existing local file system and a data store generates and exports to the data store a versioned file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. In operation, the interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as all write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, one or more data transformations may be applied to the data and metadata. In one embodiment, the data store comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. A content control system is used to configure and manage the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., Andres Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20220222145
    Abstract: An interface between an existing local file system and a data store generates and exports to the data store a versioned file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. In operation, the interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as all write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, one or more data transformations may be applied to the data and metadata. In one embodiment, the data store comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. A content control system is used to configure and manage the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2022
    Publication date: July 14, 2022
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 11288125
    Abstract: An interface between an existing local file system and a data store generates and exports to the data store a versioned file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. In operation, the interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as all write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, one or more data transformations may be applied to the data and metadata. In one embodiment, the data store comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. A content control system is used to configure and manage the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., Andres Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20210133033
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. At a first time, an interface creates and exports to a cloud data store a first structured data representation corresponding to a first version of the local file system. The first structured data representation is an XML tree having a root element, one or more directory elements associated with the root element, and one or more file elements associated with a given directory element. Upon a change within the file system, the interface creates and exports a second structured data representation corresponding to a second version of the file system. The second structured data representation differs from the first structured data representation up to and including the root element of the second structured data representation. The interface continues to generate and export the structured data representations to the data store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Publication date: May 6, 2021
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10891194
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. At a first time, an interface creates and exports to a cloud data store a first structured data representation corresponding to a first version of the local file system. The first structured data representation is an XML tree having a root element, one or more directory elements associated with the root element, and one or more file elements associated with a given directory element. Upon a change within the file system, the interface creates and exports a second structured data representation corresponding to a second version of the file system. The second structured data representation differs from the first structured data representation up to and including the root element of the second structured data representation. The interface continues to generate and export the structured data representations to the data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., Andres Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20200349011
    Abstract: An interface between an existing local file system and a data store generates and exports to the data store a versioned file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. In operation, the interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as all write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, one or more data transformations may be applied to the data and metadata. In one embodiment, the data store comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. A content control system is used to configure and manage the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2020
    Publication date: November 5, 2020
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10713119
    Abstract: An interface between an existing local file system and a data store generates and exports to the data store a versioned file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. In operation, the interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as all write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, one or more data transformations may be applied to the data and metadata. In one embodiment, the data store comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. A content control system is used to configure and manage the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10311153
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprising network accessible storage is provided. Aspects of the system include globally locking files or groups of files so as to better control the stored files in the file system and to avoid problems associated with simultaneous remote access or conflicting multiple access requests for the same files. A method for operating, creating and using the global locks is also disclosed. A multiprotocol global lock can be provided for filing nodes that have multiple network protocols for generating local lock requests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., David M. Shaw, Kevin W. Baughman, Christopher S. Lacasse, Matthew M. McDonald, Russell A. Neufeld, Akshay K. Saxena
  • Publication number: 20170357549
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. At a first time, an interface creates and exports to a cloud data store a first structured data representation corresponding to a first version of the local file system. The first structured data representation is an XML tree having a root element, one or more directory elements associated with the root element, and one or more file elements associated with a given directory element. Upon a change within the file system, the interface creates and exports a second structured data representation corresponding to a second version of the file system. The second structured data representation differs from the first structured data representation up to and including the root element of the second structured data representation. The interface continues to generate and export the structured data representations to the data store.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Publication date: December 14, 2017
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9720777
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. At a first time, an interface creates and exports to a cloud data store a first structured data representation corresponding to a first version of the local file system. The first structured data representation is an XML tree having a root element, one or more directory elements associated with the root element, and one or more file elements associated with a given directory element. Upon a change within the file system, the interface creates and exports a second structured data representation corresponding to a second version of the file system. The second structured data representation differs from the first structured data representation up to and including the root element of the second structured data representation. The interface continues to generate and export the structured data representations to the data store.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., Andres Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20170161270
    Abstract: An interface between an existing local file system and a data store generates and exports to the data store a versioned file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. In operation, the interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as all write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, one or more data transformations may be applied to the data and metadata. In one embodiment, the data store comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. A content control system is used to configure and manage the interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., Andres Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 9575841
    Abstract: An interface between an existing local file system and a data store generates and exports to the data store a versioned file system. The state of the local file system at a given point in time can be determined using the versioned file system. In operation, the interface creates and exports to the data store structured data representations, which correspond to versions of the local file system, as well as actual file system data that these structured data representations represent. A cache associated with the interface stores recently used data and metadata, as well as all write data and metadata waiting to be transferred to the data store. Prior to transfer, one or more data transformations may be applied to the data and metadata. In one embodiment, the data store comprises one or more cloud storage service providers. A content control system is used to configure and manage the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., Andres Rodriguez
  • Publication number: 20160154817
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprising network accessible storage is provided. Aspects of the system include globally locking files or groups of files so as to better control the stored files in the file system and to avoid problems associated with simultaneous remote access or conflicting multiple access requests for the same files. A method for operating, creating and using the global locks is also disclosed. A multiprotocol global lock can be provided for filing nodes that have multiple network protocols for generating local lock requests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Publication date: June 2, 2016
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., David M. Shaw, Kevin W. Baughman, Christopher S. Lacasse, Matthew M. McDonald, Russell A. Neufeld, Akshay K. Saxena
  • Patent number: 9305011
    Abstract: An archival storage cluster of preferably symmetric nodes includes a data protection management system that periodically organizes the then-available nodes into one or more protection sets, with each set comprising a set of n nodes, where “n” refers to a configurable “data protection level” (DPL). At the time of its creation, a given protection set is closed in the sense that each then available node is a member of one, and only one, protection set. When an object is to be stored within the archive, the data protection management system stores the object in a given node of a given protection set and then constrains the distribution of copies of that object to other nodes within the given protection set. As a consequence, all DPL copies of an object are all stored within the same protection set, and only that protection set. This scheme significantly improves MTDL for the cluster as a whole, as the data can only be lost if multiple failures occur within nodes of a given protection set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Robert S. Mason, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9274896
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. Each structured data representation corresponds to a version, and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a borrow window. When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time, i.e., to perform a “restore,” it is only required to walk a single structured data representation. During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is pulled back from the cloud when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system is restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously. A fast restore is performed if an object being restored exists within a borrow window of the version from which the system is restoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., David M. Shaw, Kevin W. Baughman, Stephen Fridella
  • Patent number: 9235596
    Abstract: A method of data sharing among multiple entities is provided. Each entity exports to a data store a structured data representation comprising a versioned file system local to that entity. The method begins by forming a sharing group that includes two or more entities. Sharing of the structured data representations by members of the sharing group is enabled. The filers use a single distributed lock to protect each version of the file system. This lock is managed to allow each filer access to the shared file system volume to create its new version. To share a fully-versioned file system, asynchronous updates at each of the filers is permitted, and each node is then allowed to “push” its individual changes to the store to form the next version of the file system. A mechanism also may be used to reduce the period during which filers in the group operate under lock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., David M. Shaw, Kevin W. Baughman, Stephen Fridella
  • Publication number: 20150120675
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations. Each structured data representation corresponds to a version, and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a borrow window. When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time, i.e., to perform a “restore,” it is only required to walk a single structured data representation. During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is pulled back from the cloud when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system is restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously. A fast restore is performed if an object being restored exists within a borrow window of the version from which the system is restoring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, JR., David M. Shaw, Kevin W. Baughman, Stephen Fridella
  • Patent number: 8990272
    Abstract: A versioned file system comprises a set of structured data representations, such as XML. Each structured data representation corresponds to a “version,” and each version comprises a tree of write-once objects rooted at a root directory manifest. Each version in the versioned file system has associated therewith a “borrow window.” When it is desired to reconstruct the file system to a point in time (or, more generally, a given state), i.e., to perform a “restore,” it is only required to walk (use) a single structured data representation (a tree). During a restore, metadata is pulled back from the cloud first, so users can see the existence of needed files immediately. The remainder of the data is then pulled back from the cloud if/when the user goes to open the file. As a result, the entire file system (or any portion thereof) can be restored to a previous time nearly instantaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nasuni Corporation
    Inventors: Robert S. Mason, Jr., David M. Shaw, Kevin W. Baughman, Stephen Fridella