Patent ID: 6098074
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A file management method performed in a storage management system including a data storage subsystem coupled to one or more client stations, comprising:the subsystem receiving multiple user files from the client stations;in response to receipt of the user files, applying predetermined criteria to designate groups of one or more received user files for aggregation;for each designated group, creating a managed file comprising a contiguous aggregation of all constituent user files of that group, the creating of the managed file being transparent to the first client station;providing a mapping table listing, for each user file, a corresponding location of that user file within a managed file;conducting internal data management operations, including:copying a first managed file as a contiguous unit from a first location in the data storage subsystem to a second location in the data storage subsystem;satisfying client output requests, including:receiving a retrieval request from a client station, said request identifying a first user file;in response to the retrieval request, employing the mapping table to determine the first user file's location in a second managed file, referencing the first user file's location in the second managed file to obtain a copy of the first user file, and providing the copy to the requesting client station.