File consistency protocols and methods for carrying out the protocols

A method for maintaining file consistency between multiple instances of a file, the method comprising:

• associating a file consistency protocol with an operating system (O/S), the file consistency protocol maintaining file consistency between multiple instances of the file associated with a file system using a set of file consistency protocol bits;
• checking the file for an exclusive bit setting of true;
• failing an opening of another instance of the file if the exclusive bit of the file was determined to be set to true;
• opening another instance of the file if the exclusive bit of the file was determined to be set to false;
• performing an action on the file to change the file;
• determining the type of action being performed on the file;
• if the another instance of the file is opened, setting a bit in the set of file consistency protocol bits in the another instance of the file such that the set bits reflect the action performed on the file;
• and
• messaging an update to the another instance of the file having the set bit such that the another instance of the file contains the change performed on the file.

A method for maintaining consistent file data for shared files, comprising:

• defining a set of consistency bits, wherein the set of consistency bits includes an exclusive bit;
• checking a file for an exclusive bit setting of true;
• failing an opening of another instance of the file if the exclusive bit of the file was determined to be set to true;
• opening another instance of the file if the exclusive bit of the file was determined to be set to false;
• changing the file;
• setting a bit of the set of consistency bits on the instance file to reflect the change performed to the file;
• and
• communicating an update to the instance file such that the instance file contains the change made to the file.

A method for maintaining file consistency between multiple copies of a file, the method comprising:

• integrating a set of file consistency protocol bits with a file system that manages the file and the multiple copies of the file;
• checking the multiple copies of the file for an exclusive bit setting of true;
• failing an opening of the file if the exclusive bit of at least one of the multiple copies of the file was determined to be set to true;
• opening the file if the exclusive bit of each of the multiple copies of the file was determined to be set to false;
• performing an action on the file to change the file;
• setting a bit of the set of file consistency protocol bits in the multiple copies of the file such that the set bits reflect the action performed on the file;
• and
• messaging an update to the multiple copies of the file having the set bit such that the multiple copies of the file contain the change performed on the file.