Patent ID: 8224837

Claim:
A machine-implemented method for providing access to one or more files: wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices implementing an SQL-supporting database server that processes SQL commands and commands that conform to a file system protocol to store a plurality of files in folders within a hierarchical folder structure implemented by a repository; wherein the method comprises: receiving a file system command at the SQL-supporting database server, wherein the file system command conforms to the file system protocol, wherein the command references a file as if said file were stored in a particular folder within the hierarchical folder structure that is implemented by said repository; determining whether the file is stored in said repository; in response to determining that the file is not stored in the repository, the SQL-supporting database server responding to the file system command by accessing information associated with said file, said information being located in a location other than said repository; wherein said repository is stored in a relational database managed by the SQL-supporting database server.