Patent ID: 6859812

Claim:
A method for file differentiation, comprising: receiving a request from a computer for access to a shared file; providing the computer with access to a computer specific private copy of the shared file, if the private copy already exists; and creating the computer specific private copy of the shared file for the computer to access, if the private copy does not already exist and if write access to the shared file is requested; and wherein, receiving includes, receiving a request from a first computer for access to the shared file; and receiving a request from a second computer for access to the shared file; providing includes, providing the first computer with access to a first computer specific private copy of the shared file, if the first private copy already exists; and providing the second computer with access to a second computer specific private copy of the shared file, if the second private copy already exists; and creating includes, creating the first computer specific private copy of the shared file for the first computer to access, if the first private copy does not already exist and if write access to the shared file is requested; and creating the second computer specific private copy of the shared file for the second computer to access, if the second private copy does not already exist and if write access to the shared file is requested.