Patent ID: 6604236
Filing Date: 2003-08-05
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
A method for representing modifications to a set of data objects comprising:generating a baseline of a first version of a set of data objects; identifying the differences between a second version of the set of data objects and the first version of the set of data objects by: comparing meta-data for data objects in the second version of the set of data objects to meta-data for data objects in said baseline to determine whether a data object in said second version of said set of data objects is a new data object or a modified data object; comparing meta-data for data objects in said baseline to meta-data for data objects in said second version of said data objects to determine whether one of said data objects in said first version of said data objects is absent in said second set of said data objects; wherein said meta-data for data objects in the first version of the set of data objects are stored in a basis directory entry meta-data table, and wherein said meta-data for data objects in the second version of the set of data objects are stored in a delta directory entry meta-data table; generating update information corresponding to the identified differences, said update information including references to segmented portions of said baseline that correspond to said identified differences regardless of location of said segmented portions in said baseline; and storing the update information whereby the update information may be retrieved and used to generate the second version of the set of data objects from the first version of the set of data objects.