US 9,984,080 B2Granted

Efficient non-database file-expiration management for document retention

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsChristopher J. Stakutis, Kevin M. Stearns

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Abstract

Disclosed are a method, system, program and data structure for implementing a records retention policy by storing selected files for designated lengths of time and then deleting them only when that time has passed. Embodiments of the invention perform this function in an efficient database-free manner. Embodiments of the invention can perform this function by utilizing existing storage directory tree functionality provided by any computer operating system organized under a retention directory coupled with a mechanism for preventing unauthorized deletions of files designated for retention. Expiration of retained files may be managed through directory structure using directory names corresponding to expiration dates determined from identified retention periods for retained files. Files may be further protected from erasure by a kernel mode process which prevents erasure of any files contained in the retention directory.

Claims14

Dependent claims

A file expiration management system, comprising:

at least one computer including a processor, operating system, memory;
expiration management software stored in the memory and running on the processor under the operating system;
and
at least one mass storage device capable of storing data files from the computer, the mass storage device further comprising a data structure controlled by the running expiration management software, said data structure comprising:
a file retention directory for storing one or more files to be protected from erasure for a retention period, wherein a retention directory path of the file retention directory comprises the retention period for the one or more files stored within the retention directory path and wherein each of the one or more files is associated with a unique file identifier;
and
a file expiration directory for storing one or more expiration files, wherein each of the one or more expiration files corresponds to an expiration date and consists of a list of the unique file identifiers for each of the one or more files stored within the retention directory that expire on the expiration date, wherein an expiration directory path of the file expiration directory comprises a year, a month, and a day sequentially named that correspond to the expiration date,
wherein the one or more files to be protected from erasure are stored separately from the one or more expiration files and wherein the expiration date for each of the one or more files is calculated by adding the retention period to a saving date of the one or more files in the file retention directory at the time that the one or more file is stored in the file retention directory.

5 more elements

A method of file expiration management, comprising the steps of:

saving at least one retained file in a retention directory residing in a file retention tree structure, the retention directory comprising a directory retention name including a designation for a retention period for which the at least one retained file is to be stored after a file saving date of the at least one retained file and wherein each of the at least one retained files is associated with a unique file identifier;
calculating an expiration date for the at least one retained file by adding the retention period to the file saving date, the calculating performed at the time that the retained file is stored in the retention directory;
determining whether an expiration directory exists within a file expiration tree structure designated for the expiration date;
determining whether an expiration file corresponding to the expiration data within the expiration directory exists, the expiration file stored separately from the at least one retained file and consisting of a list of the unique file identifiers for each of the at least one retained file in the retention directory that expires on the expiration date;
and
based on determining that the expiration file corresponding to the expiration data within the expiration directory exists, adding the unique file identifier of the at least one retained file to the expiration file, wherein a directory path of the expiration files in the expiration directory comprises a year, a month, and a day that correspond to the file expiration date.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.