Method and apparatus for accelerating and improving access to network files

Abstract

A method and apparatus for accelerating and improving access to network files is provided. One technique for providing data quickly and efficiently is to send a thumbnail of a file to a user rather than sending the entire file. Another technique for providing data quickly and efficiently is to generate the difference between a current version of data and a non-current version of data, to transmit this difference to the requesting user, and to use the difference to update the non-current version of data the user currently has access to. A third technique that can be used in combination with the first two techniques is to compress data, such as the thumbnail or file difference, before transmitting this data. A fourth technique that can be used in combination with the third technique is to securely transmit the compressed data.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 10 / 174,735, filed Jun. 18, 2002, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as if fully set forth herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to accessing network files and more specifically to accelerating and improving access to network files. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] In the early days of computing, a computer only had access to data that was on that computer's local disk. As time progressed, computers were connected together using networks. Thus, there was a possibility that each computer could access data on other computer's local disks (hereinafter referred to as “decentralized file systems”). FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a decentralized file system with three computers (110, 120, and 130). Each of these three computers is associated with a corresponding local disk (111, 121, 131). Using a decentralized file system mechanism, computer 110 ca...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0010] Techniques are provided for accelerating and improving access to network files. One technique for providing data quickly and efficiently is to send a thumbnail of a file to a user rather than sending the entire file. The thumbnail has enough information to convey the contents of the full version of the file, but contains less data. According to one embodiment, the thumbnail version is accompanied by address data that allows the full version of the file to be easily retrieved if, after inspecting the thumbnail, a user determines that the full version is needed.

Problems solved by technology

However, the problem with decentralized file systems is that managing the data is difficult because the data is spread out.

Furthermore, decentralized file systems make file sharing difficult.

Backing up files that are spread across many systems can by a complex, and time and resource-consuming, operation.

A decentralized file system is not convenient for file sharing or managing files.

However, there are also problems with centralized file systems.

However, other problems are associated with hybrid file systems.

Furthermore, a hybrid file system is not an efficient use of resources such as CPU cycles or storage space.

The problem of connections having low bandwidth or going down still exists.

Policies for replicating the shared data are also needed, increasing the complexity of setup and maintenance.

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