Data object identification, tracking, filtering and monitoring using data object fingerprints in a repository

Abstract

The present invention relates to, among other things, the use of digital object fingerprints to account for digital objects.

1 . A system, comprising: 
 a repository on a server, wherein the repository stores one or more digital objects, wherein each digital object in the repository is associated with a unique digital object identifier, wherein the unique digital object identifier is stored in a database, and wherein a hashing algorithm is used to determine whether a second digital object is a copy of a first digital object associated with a first unique digital object identifier; and    a plug-in to an integrated development environment on a client, wherein the plug-in includes data object tracking software to communicate digital object identification information to the repository on the server.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the database indicates when the client has acquired a copy of the digital object identified by the digital object identifier.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the database keeps track of the number of times each digital object in the repository has been requested by the client.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein contextual information is stored in the database.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the digital object identifier identifies software files.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more clients periodically communicate data-object tracking information to the server.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the server tracks which clients store copies of digital objects in the repository regardless of whether the copies of digital objects were downloaded from the repository.  
     
     
         8 . A method, comprising: 
 storing a digital object in a repository on a server, wherein the repository stores one or more digital objects;    associating a unique digital object identifier with the digital object stored in the repository on the server, wherein the unique digital object identifier is stored in a database, and wherein a hashing algorithm is used to determine whether a second digital object is a copy of a first digital object associated with a first unique digital object identifier; and    communicating digital object identification information to the repository on the server from a plug-in to an integrated development environment on a client, wherein the plug-in includes data object tracking software.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the database indicates when the client has acquired a copy of the digital object identified by the digital object identifier.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the database keeps track of the number of times each digital object in the repository has been requested by the client.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein contextual information is also stored in the database  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the digital object identifier identifies software files.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein one or more clients periodically communicate data-object tracking information to the server.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the server tracks which clients store copies of digital objects in the repository regardless of whether the objects were downloaded from the repository.  
     
     
         15 . A computer readable storage medium, storing instructions executable by a processor, the instructions comprising: 
 storing a digital object in a repository on a server, wherein the repository stores one or more digital objects;    associating a unique digital object identifier with the digital object stored in the repository on the server, wherein the unique digital object identifier is stored in a database, and wherein a hashing algorithm is used to determine whether a second digital object is a copy of a first digital object associated with a first unique digital object identifier; and    communicating digital object identification information to the repository on the server from a plug-in to an integrated development environment on a client, wherein the plug-in includes data object tracking software.    
     
     
         16 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the database indicates when the client has acquired a copy of the digital object identified by the digital object identifier.  
     
     
         17 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the database keeps track of the number of times each digital object in the repository has been requested by the client.  
     
     
         18 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein contextual information is also stored in the database  
     
     
         19 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the digital object identifier identifies software files.  
     
     
         20 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein one or more clients periodically communicate data-object tracking information to the server.  
     
     
         21 . The computer readable storage medium of  claim 20 , wherein the server tracks which clients store copies of digital objects in the repository regardless of whether the objects were downloaded from the repository.