Patent ID: 8660996
Filing Date: 2014-02-25
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, by a processor at a requesting entity, a request to access a file in a cloud-based network, wherein the request comprises an identifier of the file; identifying a value in a hash structure at the requesting entity using the identifier of the file as a key into the hash structure, wherein the value comprises an initial link to a candidate storage location of the file in the cloud-based network, and wherein the initial link comprises a first generation number; following the initial link to the candidate storage location in the cloud-based network, wherein the candidate storage location in the cloud-based network comprises an additional link; following the additional link to an actual storage location of the file in the cloud-based network to access the file and examine a second generation number associated with the file; updating the initial link in the value in the hash structure to point to the actual storage location of the file; comparing the first generation number to the second generation number to determine whether the file has been relocated or modified by an entity other than the requesting entity; and wherein the first generation number and the second generation number are counters that are incremented as the file is modified or relocated.