Minimizing bandwidth in file path-centric protocol message

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for reducing data within a file path-centric protocol message, the instructions comprising:

• on a client device, determining when to perform an action on files on a server device;
• wherein each of the files comprises a file path that specifies a location of the file;
• determining a common portion of the file path for each of the files;
• creating a file path-centric protocol message that comprises storing a single time the common portion of the file path for the files and storing a unique portion of the file path for each of the files;
• and
• transmitting the file path-centric protocol message to the server to perform the action on each of the files that are identified within the file path-centric protocol message.

A system for reducing data within a file path-centric protocol message, comprising:

• a processor and a computer-readable storage medium;
• an operating environment stored on the computer-readable storage medium and executing on the processor;
• a network connection, and
• a path manager operating under the control of the operating environment and operative to perform actions, including:
• determining when to perform an action on files on a server device;
• wherein each of the files comprises a file path that specifies a location of the file;
• determining a common portion of the file path for each of the files in a group of files;
• creating a file path-centric protocol message that comprises storing a single time the common portion of the file path for the group of the files and storing a unique portion of the file path for each of the files within the group of files;
• and
• transmitting the file path-centric protocol message to a server using the network connection to perform the action on each of the files that are identified within the file path-centric protocol message.