Patent ID: 7895249

Claim:
A method for managing access to a plurality of files stored in a network environment, wherein each of the plurality of files is uniquely identified in the network environment by a file identifier other than a filename, the method comprising: storing, at a client, a first file handle entry in a list of file handle entries, the list being a delayed close list identifying a plurality of opened files subject to delayed close, the first file handle entry comprising a first file identifier unique to a first opened file of the plurality of opened files and a first file name corresponding to the first opened file, wherein the first file identifier is a unique value assigned to the first opened file corresponding to a target file; storing, at the client, a second file handle entry in the list of file handle entries, the second file handle entry comprising the first file identifier unique to the first opened file and a second file name corresponding to the first opened file; receiving, at the client, a request to delete or rename the target file; and in response to the request, issuing a query to a server for a target file identifier assigned to the target file; upon receiving the target file identifier assigned to the target file from the server, comparing, at the client, the target file identifier with the first file identifier assigned to the first file handle entry and the second file handle entry on the delayed close list; determining, at the client, that the target file identifier assigned to the target file matches the first file identifier assigned to the first file handle entry and the second file handle entry; upon determining that the target file identifier assigned to the target file matches the first file identifier assigned to the first file handle entry and the second file handle entry, at the client, removing from the list of file handle entries both the first and second file handle entries prior to enabling delete or rename to the target file.