File management using a temporal database architecture

A data retrieval method, comprising:

• receiving a reconstruction request that identifies a time instance value and an identifier for a portion of a text document;
• identifying a time window between a current time value and the time instance value;
• identifying entries within a change history log within the time window that are associated with the identifier for the portion of the text document, wherein the change history log that comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry identifies:
• a change made to a document mapping that map portions of a text document to portions of another text document;
• and
• a timestamp that is associated with the change that is made to the text document mapping;
• generating a reconstructed document mapping by undoing the changes to the document mapping based on the identified entries within the change history log that are within the time window and that are associated with the identifier for the portion of the text document, wherein:
• undoing the changes is performed based on the identified entries in a reverse chronological order;
• the reconstructed document mapping identifies portions of other text documents that are mapped to the portion of the text document at the time instance value;
• and
• generating the reconstructed document mapping comprises modifying a mapping between the portion of the text document and portions of the other text documents;
• and
• outputting the reconstructed document mapping.

A computer program comprising executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium that when executed by a processor causes the processor to:

• receive a reconstruction request that identifies a time instance value and an identifier for a portion of a text document;
• identify a time window between a current time value and the time instance value;
• identify entries within a change history log within the time window that are associated with the identifier for the portion of the text document, wherein the change history log that comprises a plurality of entries, wherein each entry identifies:
• a change made to a document mapping that map portions of a text document to portions of another text document;
• and
• a timestamp that is associated with the change that is made to the document mapping;
• generate a reconstructed document mapping by undoing the changes to the document mapping based on the identified entries within the change history log that are within the time window and that are associated with the identifier for the portion of the text document, wherein:
• undoing the changes is performed based on the identified entries in a reverse chronological order;
• the reconstructed document mapping identifies portions of other text documents that are mapped to the portion of the text document at the time instance value;
• and
• generating the reconstructed document mapping comprises modifying a mapping between the portion of the text document and portions of other text documents;
• and
• output the reconstructed document mapping.