Patent ID: 7373406

Claim:
A method for effectively communicating file properties and directory structures within a distributed file system, comprising: creating a manifest that includes properties of files used in an application; initially storing the manifest on a server; distributing the manifest to a client before the client has received all of the files associated with the application; storing the manifest on the client; and during execution of the application, performing further actions, including: determining when a request for a specific property for a particular file in the application is made by the client; retrieving the specific property from the particular file if the particular file is stored on the client; retrieving the specific property from the manifest stored on the client if the particular file is unavailable on the client; replacing a file call within the application with another call that use a distibution file system layer; and the distributed file system layer configured to perform the following actions during execution of the application: recieve a file request from the application; determine a location of where the request file is stored using the manifest stored in the client memory, wherein the location comprises a local location and a non-local location; retrieve the file from the determined location; and update the manifest when afile changes locations.