A system and methods for simultaneous editing of one or more documents by two or more distinct users is disclosed. Each document is divided into a number of mutually exclusive sections, which together contain the entire document. Each section is stored in a separate data container. Each document has primary data of a primary data type. The containers that store the primary data for each document have a common parent container, which is at the head of a document sub-tree corresponding to the document. A document may also include embedded data, which may be of the same or a different type than the primary data. The embedded data is typically stored in embedded data containers, which are typically child containers of the primary data containers. Each of the parent containers is a child container of a root container, which is at the head of a container tree in which all documents in a workspace are stored. Each workspace also includes a member list. The system may include more than one workspace, and may include users who are members of more than one workspace. Editors are provided for editing documents and embedded data of a number of data types that are supported by the system. Each editor is configured to allow a member to edit data in a section of a document. Typically, data may only be edited after obtaining an exclusive lock for the container in which the section is stored. However, in some cases, data may be edited without first locking the associated container and the modified container may be blindly posted. Different sections of a document may be simultaneously locked by different members, allowing the members to simultaneously edit the two different sections. Editing changes to a document are posted by each editor to a workspace server, which then broadcasts the changes to all connected members of the workspace, allowing members to view changes to a document after they are posted.

Simultaneous multi-user document editing system

Network operating system

A system for electronic file collaboration among multiple users is implemented using command messages transmitted on dedicated network channels established between conference participants in a peer-to-peer architecture with total autonomy from a central server. The system employs owner-in-control methodology to allow direct transmission of copies of documents among participants by permission, and to prevent storage of copies of documents used in a conference by participants. Mark-ups, additions, and other actions occurring on a conference document can only be saved by the document owner. An advanced viewer engine is provided for reading, displaying and manipulating electronic data in texts, tables, vectors and 3D model formats, as well as common raster images. A proxy module allows data transmitted through IPFW routers or firewall devices with sufficient authentications and security measures.

System for electronic file collaboration among multiple users using peer-to-peer network topology

A method and system for leasing storage locations in a distributed processing system is provided. Consistent with this method and system, a client requests access to storage locations for a period of time (lease period) from a server, such as the file system manager. Responsive to this request, the server invokes a lease period algorithm, which considers various factors to determine a lease period during which time the client may access the storage locations. After a lease is granted, the server sends an object to the client that advises the client of the lease period and that provides the client with behavior to modify the lease, like canceling the lease or renewing the lease. The server supports concurrent leases, exact leases, and leases for various types of access. After all leases to a storage location expire, the server reclaims the storage location.

Method and system for leasing storage

Techniques are described for managing the execution of programs on a plurality of computing systems, such as computing systems organized into multiple groups. A program execution service manages the program execution on behalf of multiple customers or other users, and selects appropriate computing systems to execute one or more instances of program, such as based in part on locations of one or more previously stored copies of the program from which copies of the program to execute may be acquired. For example, in some situations the selection of an appropriate computing system to execute an instance of a program is based in part on physical or logical proximity to other resources, such as stored copies of the program, executing copies of the program, and/or available computing systems.

Managing execution of programs by multiple computing systems

A method and system for managing data (i.e., objects) that are shared by multiple instances of a shared application program. A shared application program is an application program that is executing simultaneously on multiple computers and that has a copy of data that is being shared by each instance of the application program. In particular, each computer maintains a copy of the shared data. When an instance of the application program modifies the shared data, the modifications are sent to the other computers. Each of these other computers stores the data in its copy of the shared data, and each instance of the application program updates its user interface to reflect the modifications to the shared data. Thus, the users of the shared application program can cooperatively modify and view the shared data. For example, multiple users can be executing a word processing program on their computer and sharing a common document. As one user changes the document, the word processing program updates its copy of the shared data. The changes are then transmitted to the other computers so that their copy of the shared data can be updated. In particular, an object management (OM) system is provided that enables shared application programs to manage their copy of the shared data. Each computer has a copy of the OM system. The OM system, under the direction of the shared application program, manages the adding, deleting, and modifying of the shared data. The OM system also controls the transmitting of modifications to the copy of the shared data to the other computers.

Conor M. Foley

Papers

Method and system for managing data while sharing application programs