Patent ID: 6260040
Filing Date: 2001-07-10
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A distributed shared file system for storing digital data comprising:a shared file system having a shared file system interface, said shared file system for storing shared user files;a distributed client-server system having a distributed client-server system interface different from said shared file system interface, said distributed-client server system storing metadata related to said shared user files; anda workstation, wherein the workstation is separately connected to the shared file system and the distributed client server system and the shared file system is connected to said distributed client-server system,wherein users can access said shared file system using said shared file system interface,wherein said users perform at least one of reading and copying operations of said shared user files directly from said shared file system without direct involvement of said distributed client-server system,wherein upon an edit request by a user, the distributed client-server system directs the shared file system to send a copy of a shared file from the shared file system to the workstation,wherein editing of said shared user files requires updating said metadata in said distributed client-server system.