Patent ID: 6615225
Filing Date: 2003-09-02
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for relating groups of files in a distributed data storage system having a primary storage site and a remote storage site, the method comprising:assigning a token to a file of the primary storage site; passing a copy of the file from the primary storage site to the remote storage site; passing a copy of the token from the primary storage site to the remote storage site; assigning membership of the file to at least one of a plurality of groups of files residing on the remote storage site by comparing the token with other tokens on the remote storage site without retrieving the group of files corresponding thereto; and in response to a request from the primary storage site, returning a sub-file and a corresponding base file to the primary storage site from the remote storage site, the relationship of the base file and the sub-file established with use of the token.