Patent ID: 8442983

Claim:
A system for generating a database of metadata that describes data objects, the system comprising: a computing device including— a data storage device that stores data, wherein the data includes data objects and metadata that describes the data objects; and a system that indexes data objects and metadata stored on the data storage device; and a data agent configured to— scan a portion of the system that indexes data objects and metadata during one or more time periods, by— requesting that the system that indexes data objects and metadata provide metadata related to a data object; receiving the requested metadata; and storing the received metadata in a database of metadata; populate one or more interim change tables, by— registering for a change notification service that provides change notifications of interactions with data objects stored on the data storage device; receiving a change notification of an interaction with a data object stored on the data storage device; and updating an interim change table to store information provided by the received change notification in the interim change table; identify interactions with data objects that are not reflected by the information stored in the one or more interim change tables; retrieve information regarding the identified interactions with data objects; update the one or more interim change tables to store the retrieved information; and update the database of metadata by— analyzing the information stored in the one or more interim change tables; generating or providing metadata based on the analyzed information; and, adding the generated or provided metadata to the database of metadata; wherein the data agent is configured to populate the one or more interim change tables substantially simultaneously with scanning the portion of the system that indexes data objects and metadata.