Patent ID: 6892277

Claim:
A method for providing desired content, comprising: receiving a first content request at a first storage device, wherein the first storage device is accessible by more than one client; analyzing a map at said first storage device to determine if a copy associated with said first content request is present at said first storage device, said map including at least one map entry having an identifier suitable for describing a range of addressable data blocks, wherein the map entry corresponds to a data block stored in said first storage device; providing said copy associated with said first content request to a user; wherein said copy associated with said first content request is retrieved from a second storage device to said first device when said copy associated with said first content request is not initially present at said first storage device; and receiving a message at said first storage device from said second storage device when said copy associated with said first content request is present at said first storage device and is modified at said second storage device.