Apparatus for policy based storage of file data and meta-data changes over time

Abstract

A time domain server includes a version storage. The time domain server declares epochs for a source server, then requests events from the source server. As the time domain server receives events, it uses the events to update the version storage to store versions of files from the source server.

1 . A computer-implemented method for accessing changes from a time domain server, comprising: 
 receiving a query from a user;    searching a search database to identify at least a file that satisfies the query;    displaying a list including the file that satisfies the query;    receiving a request for the file; and    processing the request for the file.    
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein processing the request includes copying the file to a source server.  
     
     
         3 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 2  wherein copying the file includes replacing a newer version of the file on the source server with the file on the time domain server.  
     
     
         4 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein processing the request includes forwarding the request for the file to a source server if the request does not involve the time domain server.  
     
     
         5 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein processing the request includes: 
 accessing a policy for the file; and    determining if the policy permits the request.    
     
     
         6 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 5 , wherein processing the request further includes denying the request if the policy does not permit the request.  
     
     
         7 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the method further comprises using an access control information associated with the file to determine if the user is permitted to access the file; and    displaying a list includes displaying the list including the file that satisfies the query if the user is permitted to access the file.    
     
     
         8 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the method further comprises: 
 forwarding the query to a source server; and  
 receiving at least a second file from the source server; and  
   displaying a list includes combining the file that satisfies the query with the second file from the source server into the list.    
     
     
         9 . A computer-implemented method according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 receiving at least a second file includes receiving a newer version of the file from the source server; and    combining the file that satisfies the query with the second file from the source server includes identifying the file in the list as an archived version of the newer version of the file from the source server.    
     
     
         10 . An article comprising a machine-accessible medium having associated data that, when accessed, results in a machine: 
 receiving a query from a user;    searching a search database to identify at least a file that satisfies the query;    displaying a list including the file that satisfies the query;    receiving a request for the file; and    processing the request for the file.    
     
     
         11 . An article according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 the machine-accessible medium has further associated data that, when accessed, results in the machine: 
 forwarding the query to a source server; and  
 receiving at least a second file from the source server; and  
   displaying a list includes combining the file that satisfies the query with the second file from the source server into the list.