System and methods for capturing and storing metadata from access logs and storage systems and improving storage efficiency of data and method therefor

An electronic file storage system comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory coupled to the processor, the memory storing program instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to:
• parse an access log;
• infer access time, modify time, create time, delete time, other metadata from the access log unavailable on the access log, wherein access time, modify time, create time, delete time and other metadata is inferred from a timestamp of an object recorded on the access log, wherein time is inferred from the timestamp of the object record, wherein access time is inferred from logged reads, create time and modify times are inferred from logged writes, and other times are inferred from other logged operations metadata or other data update times;
• capture a series of access, create, modify, and delete times for the object to store a history of the object;
• determine the probability of the object being accessed or modified using recency of access and historical pattern of access;
• and
• label the object as one of a “hot” object or a “cold” object based on the probability.