Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Walter J Kennamer

Keith Stuart Kaplan

Neil Warren Black

Gunnar Mein

Dan Morrow

The present invention extends to methods, systems, and computer program products for extending non-volatile storage at a computer system. In some embodiments, a file operation is performed on at least one shadow copy of a file that is perceived by an application to be stored on a single volume. A plurality of shadow copies of a file can be accessed using durable file identifiers that are durable across changes to other file characteristics. It is indicated back to the application that the file operation was performed on the file perceived to be stored on the single volume. Storage capabilities are enhanced through migration and/or replication of files to newly added volumes.

Extending non-volatile storage at a computer system

An integrated network and method for managing cached connections are provided. The integrated network includes one or more Web server clients in communication with one or more data servers that allow the Web server clients to request data over a communication channel. To facilitate repeated data requests, an individual Web server client requests that one or more communication channels be cached. The data server processes the Web server client request based on varying criteria. Upon the instantiation of a cached connection, both the Web server client and the data server may maintain the cached connections.

System and method for dynamic caching of data connections

An improved user interface and query method permits a computer user to quickly specify field names, operators, and desired values for a database query. One or more of the desired values can be specified as an &ldquo;ask me&rdquo; value that will cause the user to be prompted (each time the query is to be executed) for a desired value prior to executing the query. A &ldquo;wizard-like&rdquo; set of dialog boxes guides the user through prompts to supply values for all such &ldquo;ask me&rdquo; values in a compound query. Rather than presenting the user with arcane logical operators and a formalistic query language, logical operators are converted into ordinary English phrases. The user can save the query for later re-use or modification. Another feature prompts the user with a constrained list of possible values that a field can assume, forcing the user to select from among the constrained values rather than requiring the entry of a discrete value. When the user specifies an &ldquo;ask me&rdquo; value for one of these fields, the constrained list is presented to the user before the query is executed. The invention can be implemented as an ActiveX control that executes in a web browser on a client computer.

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Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Walter J Kennamer