System for physical storage architecture providing simultaneous access to common file by storing update data in update partitions and merging desired updates into common partition

A method for providing simultaneous access to a common file on a computer network, said network including at least two local computers and at least one remote computer coupled to each of said at least two local computers, said method including the steps of:

• partitioning memories on said local computers into journal partitions;
• storing updates to said file, while maintaining common data unchanged, in user update files on respective said journal partitions;
• partitioning memories on said local computers into local library partitions;
• storing information from respective user update files of said journal partitions while maintaining common data unchanged;
• updating at least one of said user update files while its associated computer is disconnected from said remote computer;
• transmitting said updates from said associated computer to said remote computer after said remote computer is reconnected with said associated computer;
• receiving updates on said remote computer from each of said at least two local computers;
• partitioning a memory on said remote computer into a remote partition that stores said updates from said at least two local computers;
• and
• merging said updates from said at least two local computers into said remote partition.

A storage system for a computer network simultaneously accessible by at least a first and second user, comprising:

• at least one physical storage device,
• a common partition defined in sa id a t least one physical storage device storing common data which is accessible to said first and second users;
• a first update partition defined in said at least one physical storage device storing first update data from said first user representing changes to said common data in first user selected data fields in said common partition while maintaining common data unchanged, said first update data in said first partition is at least partially inaccessible to said second user;
• a second update partition defined in said at least one physical storage device storing second update data provided by said second user representing changes to the common data in second user selected data fields in said common partition while maintaining common data unchanged, said second update data in said second partition is at least partially inaccessible to said first user;
• means for linking two or more partitions together to form partition chains;
• and
• means for selectively merging said first and second update data in to said common partition at a desired time so as to replace the common data in said first and second user selected data fields with said first and second update data.

A method for providing simultaneous access by at least a first and second user to a common data file on a computer network comprising at least one physical storage device, said method including the steps of:

• defining a first common partition on said at least one physical storage device accessible to said first and said second users;
• defining a first update partition on said at least one physical storage device, said first update partition accessible to said first user and at least partially inaccessible to said second user;
• forming a first user partition chain by linking said first common partition and said first update partition;
• storing first user update data in said first update partition while maintaining common data unchanged, said first user update data corresponding to changes to said common data file by said first user;
• is defining a second update partition on said at least one physical storage device, said second update partition accessible to said second user and at least partially inaccessible to said first user;
• forming a second user partition chain by linking said first common partition and said second update partition;
• storing second user update data in said second update partition while maintaining common data unchanged, said second user update data corresponding to changes to said common data file by said second user;
• merging selected first and or second update data from said first and or second update partitions respectively into said first common partition.