Patent ID: 7177868

Claim:
A method for controlling and providing access to files maintained at remote storage locations to a source code management system client over a network, the method comprising: receiving a request, at a server, for checking-out a file corresponding to a filename, from the source code management system client over the network; determining from metadata, by the server, a remote storage location address associated with the filename where the requested file is located, wherein the metadata is defined in a mapping table that indicates remote storage location addresses corresponding to the files, wherein the metadata includes indications of the number of accesses of the files by a plurality of source code management system clients, wherein the metadata is stored more proximate to the server than to the source code management system client, wherein the remote storage location address is based on a history of request patterns from the plurality of source code management system clients, and wherein the history of request patterns includes the indications of the number of accesses of the files by the plurality of source code management system clients; sending, by the server, the remote storage location address to the source code management system client, wherein the remote storage location address where the requested file is located is more proximate to the source code management system client than to the server; and updating, by the server, the metadata to indicate that the requested file is checked-out and locked.