Patent ID: 7103617

Claim:
A method for managing shared access to data files stored in a file server by a plurality of authorized computer workstations, the method comprising: supplying to a first storage cache a copy of a data file retrieved from the file server by a cache server for reading or updating, wherein the first storage cache is associated with a plurality of first authorized computer workstations and stores the copy of the data file as a cached data file; at the first storage cache, incorporating data file modifications entered by any of the first workstations into the cached data file as the modifications are entered, such that the cached data file is a current version; automatically transmitting file update data from the first storage cache to the cache server, wherein the file update data is a function of the modifications incorporated into the cached data file which make the cached data file the current version; and at the cache server, generating a replacement version of the data file stored at the file server based on the file update data.