Abstract: Implementing a consistent user name-space on networked computing devices includes various components and methods. When a network connection between a local or host computing device and one or more remote computing devices is present, remote items are represented using the same methodology as items located on the host computing device. To the user, remote and local items are indistinguishable. When the network connection is lost or items located on a remote computer are otherwise unavailable, the unavailable items remain represented on the host computing device. Unavailable items are represented in a way that informs the user that the items may not be fully accessed.

Abstract: Implementing a consistent user name-space on networked computing devices includes various components and methods. When a network connection between a local or host computing device and one or more remote computing devices is present, remote items are represented using the same methodology as items located on the host computing device. To the user, remote and local items are indistinguishable. When the network connection is lost or items located on a remote computer are otherwise unavailable, the unavailable items remain represented on the host computing device. Unavailable items are represented in a way that informs the user that the items may not be fully accessed.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a consistent user name-space on networked computing devices is provided. When a network connection between a local or host computing device and one or more remote computing devices is present, remote items are represented using the same methodology as items located on the host computing device. To the user, remote and local items are indistinguishable. When the network connection is lost or items located on a remote computer are otherwise unavailable, the unavailable items remain represented on the host computing device. Unavailable items are represented in a way that informs the user that the items may not be fully accessed.

Abstract: A method of purging cached open files from a client-side delayed close list on a remote file system. The remote file system stores a unique file identifier for each cached open file which is independent of the cached file's namespace. In response to a delete or rename command of a remote target file, the remote file system obtains a target file identifier from the target file's server. The remote file system then compares the target file identifier with each of the cached file's unique file identifier. If a cached file's unique file identifier matches the target file identifier, the cached file is purged from the delayed close list.

Abstract: A system and method that automatically and transparently enable access to prior file or folder versions for a selected file or folder. When a file or folder is selected for version location, such as via a user interface, prior versions are automatically located and time data (e.g., determined from timestamps) identifying each of the prior versions is displayed. The user can then select a prior version for restoration and thereby recover from changed file data. The present invention can be implemented using remote file servers, or with local file system volumes. Prior to displaying the versions for selection, attributes of the prior versions may be requested, whereby only versions that actually exist can be displayed, and/or only versions with possibly different data are displayed, reducing unnecessary selection for restoration.

Abstract: Access to WebDAV (Distributed Authoring and Versioning) servers is provided in a manner that is essentially transparent to applications. A WebDAV redirector and related components support file system I/O requests and network requests directed to WebDAV servers identified by URI (Universal Resource Identifier) names, or by a drive may be mapped to a WebDAV share. An application's create or open I/O requests directed to a WebDAV server are detected, and result in a local copy of the file being downloaded and cached for local access. When closed, the local file is uploaded to the WebDAV server. Network-related requests such as for browsing that are directed to a WebDAV server are also handled transparently. WebDAV files may be locally encrypted and decrypted at the file system level, transparent to applications and the WebDAV server, via an encrypting file system that performs local encryption and decryption at the local file system level.

Abstract: An improved method and system for client-side caching that transparently caches suitable network files for offline use. A cache mechanism in a network redirector transparently intercepts requests to access server files, and if the requested file is locally cached, satisfies the request from the cache when possible. Otherwise the cache mechanism creates a local cache file and satisfies the request from the server, and also fills in a sparse cached file as reads for data in ranges that are missing in the cached file are requested and received from the server. A background process also fills in local files that are sparse, using the existing handle of already open server files, or opening, reading from and closing other server files. Security is also provided by maintaining security information received from the server for files that are in the cache, and using that security information to determine access to the file when offline.

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.

Abstract: An improved method and system for client-side caching that transparently caches suitable network files for offline use. A cache mechanism in a network redirector transparently intercepts requests to access server files, and if the requested file is locally cached, satisfies the request from the cache when possible. Otherwise the cache mechanism creates a local cache file and satisfies the request from the server, and also fills in a sparse cached file as reads for data in ranges that are missing in the cached file are requested and received from the server. A background process also fills in local files that are sparse, using the existing handle of already open server files, or opening, reading from and closing other server files. Security is also provided by maintaining security information received from the server for files that are in the cache, and using that security information to determine access to the file when offline.

Abstract: An encrypted file system (EFS) and an underlying file transfer protocol to permit a client to encrypt, decrypt, and transfer file(s) resident on a server are disclosed. A user at a client computer can open, read, and write to encrypted files, including header information associated with encrypted files, and can add users to or remove users from an encrypted file.

Abstract: A system to perform transacted remote file operations over a network includes a client and a server. The client and server each include a transaction manager (TM) and a file system (FS). The client also includes a redirector (RDR), while the server includes a server application (SRV). The RDR receives a request for a remote transacted file operation. In response, the RDR retrieves the transaction from the request. The RDR may use the TM to marshall the transaction for transmission to the server. The RDR sends the transaction to the server over the network. The SRV component receives the transaction, which the TM and FS of the server then use to perform the file operation. The server then returns the file operation result to the client via the network.

Abstract: An improved method and system for client-side caching that transparently caches suitable network files for offline use. A cache mechanism in a network redirector transparently intercepts requests to access server files, and if the requested file is locally cached, satisfies the request from the cache when possible. Otherwise the cache mechanism creates a local cache file and satisfies the request from the server, and also fills in a sparse cached file as reads for data in ranges that are missing in the cached file are requested and received from the server. A background process also fills in local files that are sparse, using the existing handle of already open server files, or opening, reading from and closing other server files. Security is also provided by maintaining security information received from the server for files that are in the cache, and using that security information to determine access to the file when offline.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a consistent user name-space on networked computing devices is provided. When a network connection between a local or host computing device and one or more remote computing devices is present, remote items are represented using the same methodology as items located on the host computing device. To the user, remote and local items are indistinguishable. When the network connection is lost or items located on a remote computer are otherwise unavailable, the unavailable items remain represented on the host computing device. Unavailable items are represented in a way that informs the user that the items may not be fully accessed.

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 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: A method of purging cached open files from a client-side delayed close list on a remote file system. The remote file system stores a unique file identifier for each cached open file which is independent of the cached file's namespace. In response to a delete or rename command of a remote target file, the remote file system obtains a target file identifier from the target file's server. The remote file system then compares the target file identifier with each of the cached file's unique file identifier. If a cached file's unique file identifier matches the target file identifier, the cached file is purged from the delayed close list.

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: An encrypted file system (EFS) and an underlying file transfer protocol to permit a client to encrypt, decrypt, and transfer file(s) resident on a server are disclosed. A user at a client computer can open, read, and write to encrypted files, including header information associated with encrypted files, and can add users to or remove users from an encrypted file.

Abstract: A system to perform transacted remote file operations over a network includes a client and a server. The client and server each include a transaction manager (TM) and a file system (FS). The client also includes a redirector (RDR), while the server includes a server application (SRV). The RDR receives a request for a remote transacted file operation. In response, the RDR retrieves the transaction from the request. The RDR may use the TM to marshall the transaction for transmission to the server. The RDR sends the transaction to the server over the network. The SRV component receives the transaction, which the TM and FS of the server then use to perform the file operation. The server then returns the file operation result to the client via the network.