Apparatus and method for file capture, preservation and management

Abstract

A method for archiving files includes determining when a change in an operating file is imminent, capturing the operating file immediately before the change in the operating file occurs, if the operating file has not already been captured; and capturing the operating file immediately after the change in the operating file has occurred.

1 . In a computing device, a method for archiving files comprising:
 detecting an instruction from a resident program to perform an operation on an operating file; and   capturing the operating file temporally proximate to the operation being performed on the operating file, responsive to the detection of the instruction.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein capturing the operating file includes creating an archive file and storing the archive file in a storage location. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the archive file includes a copy of the operating file. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the archive file includes portions of the operating file. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the archive file includes pointers directed to one or more storage locations, wherein each of the one or more second storage locations contains at least a portion of the operating file. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2  wherein capturing the file includes saving the archive file prior to the operation being performed on the operating file. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein capturing the file includes saving the archive file subsequent to detecting the instruction to perform the operation. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein capturing the file includes saving the archive file subsequent to the operation being performed on the operating file. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the storage location includes a buffer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first storage location includes a storage device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the storage device includes at least one of a group comprising a magnetic storage medium, an optical storage medium, and a solid-state storage device. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the storage location includes a directory disposed on said storage device. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining whether the operating file is intended to be captured prior to said capturing step. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising determining whether the operating file has previously been captured prior to capturing the file. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the operation causes a change in the operating file. 
     
     
         16 . An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A data transmission signal having computer readable program code for performing the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . An article of manufacture comprising a processor configured to perform the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         19 . In a computing device, a method for moving files from a first storage location to a second storage location comprising:
 searching a first storage location for files responsive to the occurrence of a first event;   moving the files from the first storage location to the second storage location responsive to a second event.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the first storage location includes a buffer. 
     
     
         21 - 51 . (canceled)