Patent ID: 7051362

Claim:
A method for operating a network server to discourage inappropriate use of server memory, wherein the server is connected to a plurality of public clients and is operable to transfer public files between a memory of the server and selected ones of the plurality of clients, wherein the public files comprise files of a fault-tolerant type for which storage in the memory is to be encouraged, and files of a fault-intolerant type for which storage in the memory is to be discouraged, the method comprising the steps of: selecting a file from the public files; selecting a first portion of the file, the first portion comprising at least one bit of information in the file and being smaller than the file; rendering the file unusable for its intended purpose by altering said first portion to create an altered file and leaving a second portion of the file unaltered if the file is a fault-intolerant type; and preserving the usability of the file for its intended purpose even while remaining altered if the file is a fault-tolerant type.