Patent ID: 7146388

Claim:
A method for archiving files in a computer readable storage medium, comprising: providing a hierarchical file system having directories in the computer readable storage medium; associating a retention policy with at least one of the directories in the hierarchical file system, wherein the retention policy applies to files included in the associated directory, and wherein the retention policy specifies a retention time indicating a time period during which a file is subject to the retention policy; receiving a request directed to a target file; determining whether the target file is included within the directory associated with the retention policy; determining whether the retention time of the retention policy indicates that the target file is currently subject to retention in response to determining that the target file is included within the directory associated with the retention policy; applying the retention policy to the target file if the target file is currently subject to the retention policy; and determining whether the target file is included within a directory associated with an unlimited retention that is a subdirectory of the directory associated with the retention policy, wherein the received request directed to the target file is not allowed to proceed if the target file is also included within one directory associated with the unlimited retention even if the target file is not currently subject to the retention policy.