Abstract: A computerized method of providing an interactive virtual surface to display virtual objects is described. The method may comprise providing the virtual surface via a graphical user interface on a display screen, wherein the virtual surface displays at least one axis and a plurality of virtual objects. The method may monitor positioning (including re-positioning) of each of the plurality of virtual objects by a user on the virtual surface relative to the axis. Thereafter, virtual object association data may be stored in a database identifying an association between each of the virtual objects and at least one attribute based on the positioning.

Abstract: In general, in one aspect, a method is disclosed that includes storing a superset of data available to a client having non volatile memory (NVM) on a distant hard drive. A subset of the data is maintained in the NVM on the client. The client controls the data stored on the distant hard drive and the data maintained in the NVM. A single merged directory/file tree image is generated for the content maintained in the NVM and the distant hard drive that is accessible to a user of the client and applications running thereon.

Abstract: A system for optimizing a process of determining a location of data identified by a virtual hard drive address includes a virtual hard drive, a hypervisor, a plurality of chained files and a table. The plurality of chained files includes a first file comprising a delta of a master file and each subsequent file comprising a delta of a previous file in the plurality of chained files. The table enumerates associations between each of a plurality of virtual hard drive addresses with one of the master file and a file in the plurality of chained files. The virtual hard drive stores the master file, the plurality of chained files, and the table. The hypervisor intercepts a request to access data at a virtual hard drive address and identifies, based on the table, a file containing the requested data and responds to the request with access to the requested data.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for autonomically configuring a virtual log. In accordance with the present invention, events flowing into the virtual log can be heuristically processed to determine if any events have been lost. When an event is considered to have been lost, the size of the log associated with the event can be increased. Also, the interval in which the virtual log interacts with the associated log can be decreased so as to ensure that the events will not continue to be lost. When a period of time has elapsed during which no events are heuristically determined to have been lost, either or both of the interval and associated log can be adjusted so as to increase the interval and decrease the size of the associated log.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention are directed to closely integrating functionality between an internet server and a WebDAV tool. Areas of specific focus in this document include delegation of duties between the internet server and the WebDAV tool, efficient management of a resource's content-type, support for segregation of a namespace into separate virtual roots, and determinations of whether to invoke certain processing extensions to handle requests for a given HTTP verb.

Abstract: In a storage system that includes two or more file servers each including an arbitrary number of operating virtual file servers, a management server: holds a load information table regarding a load on each virtual file server for each time period and redundancy information table for the storage system; judges, with reference to the load information table and redundancy information table, whether or not the loads on the virtual file servers can be handled by a smaller number of file servers than the number of currently-operating file servers; selects, if the judgment result is positive, a power-off target file server and makes another file server fail over a virtual file server in the power-off target file server; and turns off the power-off target file server.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer program product are presented for determining whether a file system resource is a file system resource that is contained within a file system that can be automounted by a data processing system. A target file system resource is identified, after which a first file system data structure that represents a file system that contains the target file system resource is identified using a file system resource data structure that represents the target file system resource. If it is determined that the first file system data structure identifies a file system resource data structure that represents an automount point, the target file system resource is marked as an automount file system resource. File system resource data structures that represent hierarchically more inclusive file system resources are traversed if necessary to search for an automount point.

Abstract: A data processing apparatus includes a management file creating portion for creating a first management file for managing reading of an information data file recorded on a recording medium and a second management file for managing a predetermined function related to data recorded on the recording medium, a designation portion for designating a function associated with the recording medium, and a control portion for performing the function designated by the designation portion based on the first management file and the second management file created by the management file creating portion.

Abstract: A system and method for centrally deploying and managing virtual applications in an organization. The method comprises retrieving an existing schema of objects from a management directory of the organization; generating a virtual directory including at least the retrieved schema of objects and a virtual application; and enabling performance of a plurality of management and deployment operations on the virtual directory.

Abstract: A recording apparatus includes a server, a client, a virtual device, a judgment section, and a regeneration section. The server executes an access to a storage medium as a service. The client includes processes that require the service. The virtual device is used to perform communication between the server and the client using a socket. The judgment section judges, when a process of the client opens the virtual device, whether the virtual device is already opened. The regeneration section regenerates, when the virtual device is already opened, a file descriptor for the process that references the socket based on an existing kernel file table.

Abstract: An application programming interface (API) module provides access to data, independent of filesystem implementation in a non-privileged user mode. A discovery volume having a filesystem recognizable by an operating system has cover files which prevent damage to data stored in an unrecognizable primary volume. The discovery volume also includes a data access API available for execution in a non-privileged user mode to render the primary volume accessible by operating systems which would otherwise find the primary volume unrecognizable.

Abstract: A more efficient search algorithm introduces a variety of new tools and strategies to more efficiently search and retrieve desired records from an electronic database. Among these are a strategy that utilizes the frequency of occurrence or similar statistical calculation relating to one or more search fields, search terms or attributes of database records to execute multiple search queries in a more efficient search sequence. In addition, a database is structured to allow for the determination of the frequency of occurrence or similar statistical calculation of any search field, search term, or search attribute, for an entire database and for any subset of a database. The invention finds potential application in any database search application, but is particularly useful in delivering directory assistance services.

Abstract: A computing device includes a processor, a storage device having an executable file, and a file system for executing the file in place on the storage device on behalf of the processor. The file is divided into multiple non-contiguous fragments on the storage device, and the computing device further includes a virtual address translator interposed between the processor and the storage device for translating between physical addresses of the fragments of the file on the storage device and corresponding virtual addresses employed by the processor.

Abstract: A recording medium has a hierarchical directory structure. In the directory structure, a ROOT/BDMV directory and a MoDESTxx/BDMV directory are located below a root directory. The ROOT/BDMV directory contains a BD-J application that constitutes a FirstPlayback title. The BD-J application is a program to be first executed by a playback device upon loading of the recording medium to a playback device. When executed, the BD-J application causes the playback device to display a menu for receiving a user operation of selecting the BDMV directory and executes a root change function. The root change function is to cause the playback device to recognize the selected MoDESTxx directory as a virtual root directory.

Abstract: A virtual system environment in a computing system allows non-root users to perform administrative operations normally requiring root privileges. A virtual control module has a virtual file system with virtual directories corresponding to one or more of the system directories of a root file system. Each virtual directory contains one or more symbolic links symbolically linking to one or more system files as link targets. The symbolic links have non-root permissions that allow the non-root users to perform administrative operations in the virtual control module that delete, change or replace the symbolic links. A capability is provided to resolve the symbolic links within the virtual control module to allow the non-root users to execute the link targets via the symbolic links. One or more non-root users may be placed in the virtual control module by setting their apparent root directory to a root directory of the virtual file system.

Abstract: A control method of a memory device including a storage area formed of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, includes updating a file stored in the storage area by using a file system which supports an incremental write method, recording, in the storage area, an allocation table representing a correlation between a logical address indicating a recording position of the file and a virtual address representing a virtual recording position of the file and management information of the allocation table, and recording position information representing a recording position of the management information in a position information area of the storage area.

Abstract: A mechanism for unioning file systems using fall-through directory entries is disclosed. A method of embodiments of the invention includes receiving a request to open a directory of a union file system, processing directory entries of the directory for whiteouts and duplicates, copying the processed directory entries to disk storage, and flagging the copied entries from a lower level file system as fall-through entries.

Abstract: Virtual repository management is disclosed. An indication is received that a content management functionality is desired to be available with respect to one or more external content items. A reference object is created for each for the one or more external content items that represents the external content item and enables the content management functionality to be performed with respect to the external content item.

Abstract: A control method of a memory device including a storage area formed of a nonvolatile semiconductor memory, includes updating a file stored in the storage area by using a file system which supports an incremental write method, recording, in the storage area, an allocation table representing a correlation between a logical address indicating a recording position of the file and a virtual address representing a virtual recording position of the file and management information of the allocation table, and recording position information representing a recording position of the management information in a position information area of the storage area.

Abstract: A system and method for examining content of a client computer operating system is provided. Layout information of data related to a data container stored within the client computer is retrieved, where the layout information is implemented in terms of native operating system semantic of the client computer. The layout information is transmitted to a storage system. The storage system reconstructs the layout information of the data container stored within the client computer in a shadow volume implemented in terms of native operating system semantic of the storage system.

Abstract: A storage system includes a storage operating system configured to provide two-step data deduplication in which, during a data storage operation and prior to committing data to a storage medium of the storage system, context-aware data deduplication is performed on the data to obtain context-aware deduplicated data, and, subsequent to committing the context-aware deduplicated data to the storage medium, a context-independent data deduplication operation is performed on the context-aware deduplicated data to obtain context-independent deduplicated context-aware deduplicated data, for commitment to the storage medium.

Abstract: A method for migrating files involves receiving, from a client, a file system (FS) operation request for a target FS, making a first determination that migration for a source FS is not complete, making a second determination that the FS operation request specifies a directory and that a directory level attribute for the directory on the target FS specifies that the directory is un-migrated. In response to the first and second determination, creating, using the meta-data for content in the directory, a directory entry for a file in the directory on the target FS, where the directory entry for the file is associated with a file level attribute that specifies the file is un-migrated, and servicing, after the creating, the first FS operation request using target FS.

Abstract: A method, an apparatus, a system, and a computer program product are presented for determining whether a file system, which contains a file system resource that is to be the target of a file system operation, is currently mounted by a data processing system. A first kernel-level process obtains unique identifying information for a file system that contains the target file system resource, and a second kernel-level process manages a data structure having an entry for each file system that the kernel of the data processing system recognizes as being currently mounted. The data structure is searched by the first kernel-level process for an entry having information that matches the unique identifying information such that the first kernel-level process determines that the file system is mounted in response to finding an entry having information that matches the unique identifying information.

Abstract: Provided is a method including the steps of: storing multiple IP addresses and resource management information including correspondence relationships among the multiple IP addresses, multiple file cache regions and multiple virtual file servers; processing multiple file requests transmitted from a client computer in accordance with the resource management information, by use of a lent file cache region being a part of the multiple file cache regions corresponding to the multiple virtual file servers, a lent IP address being a part of the multiple IP addresses, and a lent volume being a part of multiple volumes, the requests transmitted by designating the multiple virtual file servers, respectively; and creating a child virtual file server by receiving a child virtual file server creation request designating one of the multiple virtual file servers.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a reading unit for reading data from a recording medium, a storage unit for storing a variety of types of data, and a control unit for controlling setting of a directory structure when a first data group recorded on a first recording medium and a second data group recorded on the storage unit are recorded on a second recording medium different from the first recording medium. The control unit includes a first detecting unit for detecting the directory structure of the first data group recorded on the first recording medium, a second detecting unit for detecting the directory structure of the second data group stored on the storage unit, and a setting unit for setting the directory structure in accordance with which the first data group read by the reading unit from the first recording medium and the second data group stored on the storage unit are recorded on the second recording medium directory.

Abstract: The present invention provides a methodology of organization of control over the process of space or other quantitative parameter of resource allocation in computer data storages. More specifically, the present invention organizes areas of quoted space or time. A method and system of the present invention includes an establishment of quotas for an area of a file system that takes into account the belonging of a file to a certain subtree or subtrees of the file system. The quota management of the present invention is established within a usual computer system which includes a hierarchic file system, as well as a set of unique users, that could be united into groups.

Abstract: Multiple files in a versioned file system are grouped to form a fusion unit on a server. The fusion unit is exposed to a client as a browsable folder having separate files. When the server receives an indication of a change to file belonging to the fusion unit, the server determines whether the change to the file causes a conflict on the fusion unit. If the change does cause a conflict, then the conflict is reported; otherwise the fusion unit is updated to incorporate the change.

Abstract: A system for managing data includes providing at least one logical device having a table of information that maps sections of the logical device to sections of at least two storage areas. Characteristics of data associated with a one section of the logical device may be evaluated. The section of the data may moved between the at least two storage areas from a first location to a second location according to a policy and based on the characteristics of the data. A copy of the data may be retained in the first location and a list maintained that indentifies the copy of the data in the first location. The system provides for garbage collection processing for memory management.

Abstract: A method of displaying contents on a mobile terminal. The method includes displaying a plurality of contents on a display of the mobile terminal, selecting a content from the plurality of displayed contents, and displaying the selected content and similar contents having a similar type as the selected content to be discriminated from other displayed contents that do not have the similar type as the selected content.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for file system sharing. A Read-Only File System (ROFS) organization module organizes a single ROFS for a plurality of operating systems. Each operating system executes on a distinct virtual machine. Each virtual machine executes on a computer. A Read/Write File System (RWFS) organization module organizes an RWFS for each operating system. An access module accesses the RWFS and ROFS for each operating system. The RWFS and ROFS appear to each operating system as a single, private file system. Each RWFS comprises at least one pointer to the ROFS.

Abstract: A system and method for processing a plurality of data storage and retrieval management or manifest files in a virtual data storage system. A plurality of individual management/manifest files, which are each used to track data management information stored on a data storage device, are merged into a single management or manifest file that can then be used to subsequently manage the input or import of data such as logical volumes from one or more physical media. This single management/manifest file could be used, for example, in a media import operation for importing a media cartridge or device into a media library such as a data storage library.

Abstract: A system and method utilizing virtual folders. The virtual folders expose regular files and folders to users in different views based on their metadata instead of the actual physical underlying file system structure on the disk. The virtual folders contain collections of items. The system includes a folder processor that obtains queries from a user and a relational database for storing information about the items. The folder processor first obtains a query from a user and passes the query to the relational database. The relational database provides results back to the folder processor, and based on the results from the relational database, the folder processor provides the results to the user as virtual folders. Users are able to work with the virtual folders through direct manipulation (e.g., clicking and dragging, copying, pasting, etc.).

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for preserving a virtual file system. Data for a virtual file system is received. The data include file handle information, vnode information, and gnode information. The data is saved to a storage device. The saved data can be used to reconstruct the virtual file system upon changeover between a primary data processing system and a backup data processing system.

Abstract: A method of resolving conflicts between revisions to a distributed virtual file system is implemented at a computing device that is communicatively connected to a plurality of storage devices. The virtual file system at the computing device has a first revision of the virtual file system. Upon receipt of a request to synchronize the first revision of the virtual file system with the storage devices, the computing device retrieves one or more blocks from the storage devices, which are associated with a second revision of the virtual file system. The computing device then merges a first component of the first revision with a corresponding component of the second revision if a first predefined condition is met or identifies a second component of the first revision as being conflicted with a corresponding component of the second revision if a second predefined set of conditions is met.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are methods for applying clothoid curve values to roadways in a geographic data information system. One embodiment is a method, comprising: selecting database segments in the geographic data information system, wherein the database segments describe roadways; determining segment chains from the selected database segments; preparing the segment chains for transition to curvature space; transitioning to a curvature function in the curvature space, by computing heading change at points along the segment chain, resulting in a transformation of the segment chains into clothoids; smoothing the curvature function; fitting the smoothed curvature function with a more generalized form which remains within a selected tolerance of the smoothed curvature function; and storing identified segments of straight lines, transition zones, and segments of constant curvature in the geographic data information system.

Abstract: A method of providing on-demand service through a virtual file system is implemented at a computing device. In response to receiving a request for a file associated with an instance of the virtual file system, the computing device checks the metadata of the requested file in the virtual file system to identify a first set of data blocks of the requested file that is not present at the computing device and retrieves the first set of data blocks from at least one of a plurality of storage devices associated with the virtual file system. The computing device generates a copy of the requested file using the retrieved first set of data blocks and returns the generated copy of the requested file to the requesting application or user.

Abstract: A computer implemented method, apparatus, and computer program product for using a virtual file system to encrypt files. The process registers a plurality of file systems on a data processing system with the virtual file system. The virtual file system is enabled to encrypt files without intervention from any file system in the plurality of file systems. The virtual file system identifies whether a file on a given file system is an encrypted file using a map file associated with the given file system. In response to identifying the file as an encrypted file, the virtual file system encrypts all data written to the file in accordance with encryption specifications in the map file.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for a virtual distributed data manager. In one example of the method, the virtual data manager involves receiving a request to mount a file system onto the client computer, wherein the file system is stored on the server system and contains the one or more data files; transferring a copy of a directory structure of the file system stored on the server system to the client computer; and creating on the client computer a virtual file system including the copy of the directory structure. The method is preferably transaction based and provides high performance on high latency network connections.

Abstract: A method and system for the protected storage of downloaded media content via a virtualized platform. A method comprises downloading content to a special purpose virtual machine and then storing the downloaded content at a location, where the location is only accessible via the special purpose virtual machine. The stored content is then streamed over a virtual network to a general purpose virtual machine, where the special purpose virtual machine and the general purpose virtual machine exist on the same personal computer (PC).

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for implementing a plurality of dispersed data storage networks using a set of slice servers are disclosed. A plurality of information records are maintained, with each information record corresponding to a dispersed data storage network. The information record maintains what slice servers are used to implement the dispersed data storage network, as well as other information needed to administer a DDSN, such as the information dispersal algorithm used, how data is stored, and whether data is compressed or encrypted.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method disclosed may include providing a plurality of classes to represent at least one attribute of a NIC team, providing at least one association class to represent the relationship between each of the plurality of classes and associating each of the plurality of classes with the at least one association class.

Abstract: A content recording apparatus includes: a content management file storing section that stores a content management file that records hierarchical entries organized in a virtual hierarchical structure; a content inputting section that inputs content files; a virtual management information creating section that creates virtual management information for virtually managing each of the inputted content files, on the basis of the content file; a meta data creating section that creates meta data related to each of the inputted content files, on the basis of the content file; and a recording control section that records file entries, which are the hierarchical entries including the created virtual management information, into the content management file, and records meta data entries, which are the hierarchical entries including the created meta data, at a lower hierarchical level than the file entries in the content management file.

Abstract: The inventions relate generally to layered computing systems that provide public access to the content of the layers. Also disclosed herein are prioritization schemes usable in a layered computing system, including prioritization by layer type, by assigned priority weights, by access type, by sub-layers and by read-write indicators. Processes may further be associated to layers from which they originate, and priority given to associated layers thereby. Association may also be provided for installer services, thereby depositing an applications updates into its layer. Layers may also contain file reference information including exclusion or inclusion entries indicating what files may be written thereto. Paths recorded in layers may also embed variables to true paths on a layered system. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.

Abstract: A method for a computer system includes receiving a mapping schema between a plurality of asset-types within an asset-type hierarchy and a plurality of paths within an on-disk storage structure, receiving an asset-type definition list from a user, wherein the asset-type definition list comprises an asset-type from the plurality of asset types, and determining at least one path from the plurality of paths for providing access to assets of the asset-type in response to the mapping schema and the asset-type definition list.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving utilization in a peer-to-peer network. Each node in a peer-to-peer network is assigned a number of preferably fixed-size storage slots proportional to the node storage, a first portion of which is allocated to storage zones and a second portion of which is allocated as a free slot reserve. In accordance with an embodiment of an aspect of the invention, this split of a storage zone is delayed until the storage zone becomes full, referred to herein as “lazy splitting”. In accordance with an embodiment of another aspect of the invention, it is advantageous to allocate more storage slots at a node than its actual physical capacity referred to herein as “oversubscription”. In accordance with an embodiment of another aspect of the invention, each physical node is allocated at least one storage zone, even as a new node is added to the system.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to identifying a bootstrap electronic service guide (“ESG”), determining how many ESGs that use a selected specification/standard are declared in the bootstrap ESG; and if the bootstrap ESG declares more than 1 ESG that uses the selected specification/standard, selecting, from the bootstrap ESG, based on a specification/standard priority-selection scheme, at least one of the ESGs that use the selected specification/standard. Embodiments of the invention are directed to determining how many ESGs that use a selected service operator are declared in the bootstrap ESG, and if the bootstrap ESG declares more than 1 ESG that uses the selected service operator, selecting, from the bootstrap ESG, based on a service-operator priority-selection scheme, at least one of the ESGs that use the selected service operator. One or more ESGs may be selected from the ESGs declared in the bootstrap ESG based on user input.

Abstract: In a subject filesystem, the invention computer method use the filesystem's dentry trees for all file system objects not contained in a corresponding stacking filesystem. The invention method set the process environment to have a reliable inheritance of the stacking filesystem's root context to new processes and uses the subject filesystem's (VFSMNT, dentry) for most lookups. All lookup results are then with respect to the subject filesystem's roots.

Abstract: Data streams are stored in a non-structured arrangement in which related data is defined by a reference in a first data stream identifying a data element in a second data stream. Instructions are received from a user to establish a virtual file system that provides a structure for a plurality of application files, wherein the information in each of the application files is contained in a plurality of data streams. The structure is defined by at least one hierarchical index, the nodes of said index being data streams. Instructions are received to write data to or read data from the virtual file system, and relevant data streams are modified to reflect instructed manipulations to data presented to a user via the virtual file system.

Abstract: The present invention provides a virtual database as well as a method, system, and program product for generating a virtual database. Specifically, under the present invention, Service Data Objects (SDOs) corresponding to a plurality of database tables are provided within a virtual container. Once provided, two or more of the SDOs are interrelated to yield the virtual database (having a Virtual Bounded Persistent Memory). In accordance with the present invention, the database tables can be stored within a single (e.g., conventional) database, or databases. In addition, the virtual database can be generated and removed on-demand. Still yet, the virtual database of the present invention can be queried using standard Structured Query Language (SQL) queries.

Abstract: An application program interface (API) embodied on one or more computer readable media, comprising a first group of services related to integrating content repositories into virtual content repositories (VCRs), a second group of services related to manipulating information in VCRs, a third group of services related to searching VCRs, a forth group of services related to configuring VCRs, and wherein the application program interface is compatible with a content repository service provider interface (SPI).