System and method for streaming files through differential compression

A computer system, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• memory;
• and
• a plurality of program modules stored in the memory and executed by the one or more processors, the program modules further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
• receiving a plurality of files, the files having respective file sizes;
• categorizing the plurality of files into a plurality of categories according to their respective file sizes, the plurality of categories comprising:
• a first category of files having respective file sizes in a first file size range;
• and
• a second category of files having respective file sizes in a second file size range, wherein the file sizes in the second file size range are smaller than the file sizes in the first file size range;
• for a respective file in the first category of files:
• identifying a first version and a second version of the respective file;
• and
• generating a difference between the first version and the second version of the respective file in the first category based on a view of the first version and a view of the second version, wherein the first version is reconstructable from the second version and the difference;
• and
• for a plurality of respective files in the second category of files:
• identifying a file aggregation of the plurality of respective files by combining the plurality of respective files into one file such that the combined file have a file size in the first file size range;
• identifying a first version and a second version of the file aggregation;
• and
• generating a difference between the first version and the second version of the file aggregation based on a view of the first version and a view of the second version, wherein the file aggregation comprises the plurality of respective files, wherein the first version of the file aggregation is reconstructable from the second version of the file aggregation and the difference.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium, storing one or more program modules for execution by one or more processors of a computer system, the one or more program modules further comprising instructions configured to cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of files, the files having respective file sizes;
• categorizing the plurality of files into a plurality of categories according to their respective file sizes, the plurality of categories comprising:
• a first category of files having respective file sizes in a first file size range;
• and
• a second category of files having respective file sizes in a second file size range, wherein the file sizes in the second file size range are smaller than the file sizes in the first file size range;
• for a respective file in the first category of files:
• identifying a first version and a second version of the respective file;
• and
• generating a difference between the first version and the second version of the respective file in the first category based on a view of the first version and a view of the second version, wherein the first version is reconstructable from the second version and the difference;
• and
• for a plurality of respective files in the second category of files:
• identifying a file aggregation of the plurality of respective files by combining the plurality of respective files into one file such that the combined file have a file size in the first file size range;
• identifying a first version and a second version of the file aggregation;
• and
• generating a difference between the first version and the second version of the file aggregation based on a view of the first version and a view of the second version, wherein the file aggregation comprises the plurality of respective files, wherein the first version of the file aggregation is reconstructable from the second version of the file aggregation and the difference.