Patent ID: 8086573
Filing Date: 2011-12-27
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for identifying computer users having files with common attributes, comprising: generating a first table having a set of attributes for each file in a first set of files associated with a first computer user, the set of attributes for each file in the first set of files having a plurality of attribute types; generating a second table having a set of attributes for each file in a second set of files associated with a second computer user, the set of attributes for each file in the second set of files having the plurality of attribute types; generating a similarity table by comparing each set of attributes in the first table with each set of attributes in the second table, utilizing a predetermined similarity metric; determining whether the first and second computer users have at least one file with common attributes, based on data in the similarity table; generating a third table at a first time having a set of attributes for each file in a third set of files associated with the first computer user, the set of attributes for each file in the third set of files having the plurality of attribute types; generating a fourth table at a second time after the first time having a set of attributes for each file in a fourth set of files associated with the first computer user, the set of attributes for each file in the fourth set of files having the plurality of attribute types; updating the first table such that the first table includes only sets of attributes contained in the fourth table that are not contained in the third table; generating a fifth table at a third time having a set of attributes for each file in a fifth set of files associated with the second computer user, the set of attributes for each file in the fifth set of files having the plurality of attribute types; generating a sixth table at a fourth time after the third time having a set of attributes for each file in a sixth set of files associated with the second computer user, the set of attributes for each file in the sixth set of files having the plurality of attribute types; and updating the second sable such that the second table includes only sets of attributes contained in the sixth table that are not contained in the fifth table.