File Tree Comparator Using Timestamp Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current file tree comparators are inefficient in comparing large file trees, as they require traversing the entire tree to find differences, leading to resource wastage, especially over slow or congested networks, and are limited in applicability to specific file systems.
Innovation Solution
A method for comparing file tree descriptions that generates a sequenced log of changes to transform an old file tree into a new one, involving recursive comparison and optimization of operations to reduce resource usage and network traffic, applicable to general file tree systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the entire file tree is traversed to find differences, then all missing or different files can be detected, but a substantial amount of time and resources are wasted traversing large portions of the tree that are not modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file tree comparison process by using directory timestamps to identify which subdirectories contain modifications. Instead of traversing the entire tree, the system divides the comparison into smaller segments (subdirectories with changes) and only traverses those segments, thereby reducing traversal time while maintaining detection completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by checking directory timestamps before traversing subdirectories. This preliminary check identifies which subdirectories contain modifications, allowing the system to avoid traversing unchanged subdirectories entirely. This preliminary filtering action significantly reduces the amount of traversal work needed while ensuring all modifications are detected.
2Loss of information
If the entire file tree is traversed to generate a comparison log, then complete change information is obtained, but network traffic and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission process by generating comparison logs only for subdirectories that contain modifications. Instead of transmitting information about the entire file tree, the system divides the log generation into smaller segments (only changed subdirectories), reducing network traffic and resource consumption while maintaining complete change information for all modified files.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary information for comparison by using timestamps to identify changed subdirectories. Instead of processing and transmitting information about all files in the tree, the system extracts and processes only the subdirectories containing modifications, thereby reducing network traffic and resource consumption while obtaining complete change information for the affected files.
3Measurement precision
If traditional file tree comparators are used, then differences can be found, but the method is limited to specific file system types and requires full tree traversal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by using a timestamp-based comparison mechanism that is applicable to general file tree structures. The method uses directory timestamps to identify modifications, which is a universal file system attribute available across different file system types. This approach makes the comparator versatile and applicable to various file systems without being limited to specific structures, while maintaining accurate difference detection.
Data Source
AI summary
The embodiments of the present invention provide a method for comparing file tree descriptions and generating a sequenced log of changes that transform an old file tree to a new file tree. According to one embodiment, the inputs to this comparator are two tree-structured descriptions called file tree indices, and the outputs are a sequence of file tree operations that can transform the old tree to the current tree. According to another embodiment, the comparator has two top level steps, where at step one it recursively goes through the old file tree index and compares each folder along with its children with that of the corresponding file tree generating a raw operation log, and at step two after the recursion is done, the comparator processes the raw operation log and optimizes certain sets of operations by transforming them into single operations.