Systems and methods for facilitating access to private files using a cloud storage system

A non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium having code embodied therein for causing an electronic device to perform a method for providing access to objects associated with a particular client, said code being operative to cause said electronic device to:

• establish a connection with a user associated with said client over a network;
• provide a client namespace associated with said client to said user, said client namespace representing objects stored on a cloud storage system and objects stored on a private storage system apart from said cloud storage system;
• receive a request from said user to access an object stored on said private storage system;
• and
• provide information to said user to facilitate access to said object stored on said private storage system by said user;
• and wherein
• to provide said client namespace to said user includes, said code is further operative to cause said electronic device to
• provide a first portion of said client namespace to said user based on objects stored on said cloud storage system and
• provide information to said user to enable said user to retrieve a second portion of said client namespace from said private storage system, thereby also providing at least a portion of said information to facilitate access to said object on said private storage system by said user.

A cloud storage system for providing access to objects associated with a particular client, said cloud storage system comprising:

• memory for storing data and code;
• at least one processing unit for executing said code, said code including a namespace module operative to
• provide a client namespace associated with said client, said client namespace representing objects stored on said cloud storage system and objects stored on a private storage system apart from said cloud storage system and
• provide information to facilitate access to one of said objects stored on said private storage system;
• and
• at least one network interface operative to
• establish a network connection with a user associated with said client,
• provide said client namespace to said user,
• receive a request from said user to access an object stored on said private storage system, and
• provide said information to facilitate access to said object to said user.

A cloud storage system for providing access to objects associated with a particular client, said cloud storage system comprising:

• memory for storing data and code;
• at least one processing unit for executing said code;
• means for providing a client namespace representing objects stored on said cloud storage system and objects stored on a private storage system apart from said cloud storage system;
• means for providing information to facilitate access to one of said objects stored on said private storage system;
• and
• at least one network interface operative to
• establish a network connection with a user associated with said client,
• provide said client namespace to said user,
• receive a request from said user to access an object stored on said private storage system, and
• provide said information to facilitate access to said object to said user.

A method for providing access to files associated with a particular client, said method comprising:

• identifying a client file system to be accessed remotely, said client file system being stored on at least one client storage system;
• synchronizing a first portion of said client file system with a cloud storage system located remotely from said client storage system;
• retaining a second portion of said client file system on said client storage system as a private file system but not on said cloud storage system;
• providing access information to said cloud storage system to enable a remote user to directly access said private file system;
• establishing a connection with a local user associated with said client;
• establishing a second connection with said cloud storage system;
• accessing a client namespace associated with said client via said second connection, said client namespace representing objects stored on said cloud storage system and objects stored on said at least one client storage system;
• and
• requesting access to one of said objects of said client namespace on behalf of said local user.

A non-transitory, electronically-readable storage medium having code embodied therein for causing an electronic device to perform a method for providing access to files associated with a particular client, said code causing said electronic device to:

• identify a client file system to be accessed remotely, said client file system being stored on at least one client storage system;
• synchronize a first portion of said client file system with a cloud storage system located remotely from said client storage system;
• retain a second portion of said client file system on said client storage system as a private file system but not on said cloud storage system;
• provide access information to said cloud storage system to enable a remote user to directly access said private file system;
• establish a connection with a local user associated with said client;
• establish a second connection with said cloud storage system;
• access a client namespace associated with said client via said second connection, said client namespace representing objects stored on said cloud storage system and objects stored on said at least one client storage system;
• and
• request access to one of said objects of said client namespace on behalf of said local user.

A client storage system for providing access to files associated with a particular client, said system comprising:

• a network interface operative to
• establish a connection with a local user associated with said client and
• establish a second connection with a cloud storage system;
• a storage device for storing data and code, said data including a client file system to be accessed remotely, said client file system including a first portion synchronized with said cloud storage system and a second portion retained in said storage device as a private file system but not on said cloud storage system, said cloud storage system being located remotely from said client storage system;
• and
• at least one processing unit operative to execute said code, said code including
• a synchronizer operative to synchronize said first portion of said client file system with said cloud storage system and
• a storage connect appliance operative to
• provide access information to said cloud storage system to enable a remote user to directly access said private file system,
• access a client namespace associated with said client via said second connection, said client namespace representing objects stored on said cloud storage system and objects stored on said at least one client storage system, and
• request access to one of said objects of said client namespace on behalf of said local user.

A client storage system for providing access to files associated with a particular client, said system comprising:

• a network interface operative to
• establish a connection with a local user associated with said client and
• establish a second connection with a cloud storage system;
• a storage device for storing data and code, said data including a client file system to be accessed remotely, said client file system including a first portion synchronized with said cloud storage system and a second portion retained in said memory but not on said cloud storage system, said cloud storage system being located remotely from said client storage system;
• means for providing access information to said cloud storage system to enable a remote user to directly access said private file system;
• means for accessing a client namespace associated with said client via said second connection, said client namespace representing objects stored on said cloud storage system and objects stored on said at least one client storage system;
• and
• means for requesting access to one of said objects of said client namespace on behalf of said local user.