Virtual File Tree Streaming for Low-Latency Cloud Folder Views
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Solution Overview
Problem
Legacy techniques for rendering a local device representation of a file tree corresponding to shared content stored on a cloud-based storage system incur long latencies due to the need to collect all information before displaying the file tree, even when only a portion is needed, impacting collaboration efficiency and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual file system on a local device to progressively build a file tree view using a metadata stream from the cloud-based storage system, allowing for the delivery of file tree metadata in discrete messages and prefetching additional metadata to reduce latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If legacy techniques collect all file tree information before displaying, then complete file tree accuracy is ensured, but latency increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the file tree metadata into discrete messages organized by hierarchical levels. Instead of transmitting the complete file tree as a single unit, the system divides it into manageable segments (level 0, level 1, level 2, etc.) that can be processed and displayed incrementally. This allows the UI to render visible portions of the file tree while remaining metadata continues to arrive, thereby reducing perceived latency while maintaining eventual completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary actions by prefetching metadata for hierarchical levels beyond what is currently visible. As the UI progresses through rendering file tree levels, the system proactively fetches metadata for subsequent levels in advance, so that when the user navigates deeper into the file tree, the data is already available or nearly available, reducing wait times and improving responsiveness.
2Ease of operation
If all file tree metadata is collected and stored locally, then complete file tree functionality is achieved, but memory consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments file tree metadata storage into hierarchical levels, where only the currently visible and immediately needed levels are fully cached in memory. Metadata for deeper hierarchical levels is stored in a more compact format or on remote storage, and is loaded into full memory cache only when needed. This segmentation approach maintains complete file tree functionality while significantly reducing peak memory consumption compared to caching the entire file tree at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial caching by storing only the portion of file tree metadata that is currently needed for display and immediate operations. Rather than caching the complete file tree structure, the system caches metadata in a partial manner, loading additional levels as needed. This partial action approach ensures adequate functionality for current user needs while minimizing memory consumption.
3Measurement precision
If complete file tree metadata is transmitted over the network, then data accuracy is ensured, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the metadata transmission into hierarchical levels sent in discrete messages. The network transmits only the currently needed levels first (level 0, then level 1, etc.), rather than transmitting the complete file tree metadata all at once. This segmentation reduces initial network bandwidth consumption while ensuring data accuracy for the portions that are transmitted, with the option to load additional levels on-demand as the user navigates deeper into the file tree.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements partial metadata transmission by sending only the portion of file tree metadata that is currently needed for display, rather than transmitting the complete file tree structure. The system transmits metadata in a partial manner, level by level, ensuring accuracy for transmitted portions while minimizing network bandwidth consumption. Additional levels are transmitted only when the user navigates to require them.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for fast views of items in file directories or file folders when interacting with a cloud-based service platform. A server in a cloud-based environment interfaces with one or more storage devices to provide storage of shared content accessible by two or more user devices. A file tree request to view the file directory or file folder of a particular sought after item is issued from an application operating on one of the user devices. Additional file tree items in a file tree hierarchy are prefetched by the cloud-based service platform. The application closes the file tree metadata stream after receiving the portion of the file tree that pertains to the particular item and before receiving the entirety of the metadata pertaining to all of the file tree metadata of all of the items in the directory or folder that contains the particular sought after item.