Patent ID: 7448032
Filing Date: 2008-11-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A computer system, comprising: a processor; a memory including persistent storage; a network interface; wherein the memory stores program instructions executable by the processor to implement a file system that is configured to access, via the network interface, a remote file located on a remote computer system that is coupled to a public network, wherein the remote file is specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), and wherein the file system is integrated with an Internet communication protocol in a manner that permits the file system to use the Internet communication protocol to access the remote file; wherein the file system is configured to permit an application program stored on the computer system to make a request to access the remote file via the files system, wherein the request uses semantics associated with the file system, wherein the request includes the URL, and wherein the application program is not a browser; wherein the file system, in response to the request, is configured to provide the application program access to the remote file without the remote computer system having to execute code corresponding to the file system and without the computer system downloading the remote file into persistent storage.