DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Status of Claims
In response to communications filed on 04 May 2026, claims 21-40 are presently pending in the application, of which, claims 21, 30 and 36 are presented in independent form. The Examiner acknowledges amended claims 21, 30-33, and 36-40. No claims were newly added or cancelled.
Continued Examination Under 37 CFR 1.114
A request for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, including the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e), was filed in this application after final rejection. Since this application is eligible for continued examination under 37 CFR 1.114, and the fee set forth in 37 CFR 1.17(e) has been timely paid, the finality of the previous Office action has been withdrawn pursuant to 37 CFR 1.114. Applicant's submission filed on 04 May 2026 has been entered with this RCE.
Priority
The Examiner acknowledges the instant application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 18/361,966, filed 08 August 2024, now issued as U.S. Patent 12,169,472, which claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 17/216,940, filed 30 March 2021, now issued as U.S. Patent 11,714,782, and has been accorded the earliest effective file date.
Response to Remarks/Arguments
All objections and/or rejections issued in the previous Office Action, mailed 04 March 2026, have been withdrawn, unless otherwise noted in this Office Action.
Applicant’s arguments with respect to claims 21-40 have been considered but are moot because the new ground of rejection does not rely on any reference applied in the prior rejection of record for any teaching or matter specifically challenged in the argument.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 103
In the event the determination of the status of the application as subject to AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103 (or as subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 102 and 103) is incorrect, any correction of the statutory basis for the rejection will not be considered a new ground of rejection if the prior art relied upon, and the rationale supporting the rejection, would be the same under either status.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 103 which forms the basis for all obviousness rejections set forth in this Office action:
A patent for a claimed invention may not be obtained, notwithstanding that the claimed invention is not identically disclosed as set forth in section 102, if the differences between the claimed invention and the prior art are such that the claimed invention as a whole would have been obvious before the effective filing date of the claimed invention to a person having ordinary skill in the art to which the claimed invention pertains. Patentability shall not be negated by the manner in which the invention was made.
Claims 21-29 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 103 as being unpatentable by Ou-Yang, Dawin, et al (U.S. 2019/0340083 and known hereinafter as Ou-Yang) in view of Venketaraman, Sriram, et al (U.S. 2020/0050681, filed 16 November 2018, and published 13 February 2020, and known hereinafter as Venketaraman) in view of Subramanian, Ananthan, et al (U.S. 2022/0035524, filed 29 January 2020, and known hereinafter as Subramanian)(newly presented).
As per claim 21, Ou-Yang teaches a method, comprising:
enabling a framing process based upon a determination that an operation is to be performed for data stored across a persistent memory file system and a storage file system of a node (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0050], which discloses the user node operational state may correspond to a snapshot of the states across the various system components of the computer device and may include data about drivers, etc, where the snapshot contains overlay data that is captured.);
notifying the storage file system of the blocks within the persistent memory file system that comprise more up-to-date data than corresponding blocks within the storage file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.);
determining that the framing process is complete based upon the storage file system of the node being notified of the blocks comprising the more up-to-date data (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.); and
executing the operation based upon the framing process completing (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0074], which discloses a timing diagram which illustrates start-up of device where in a known good state, until when the anchor point is defined, changes are made, the changes are depicted as persistent changes when anchor point is defined which causes the persisted changes.).
Ou-Yang does not explicitly teach enabling, by a node hosting a storage operating system storage stack separately implementing a persistent memory tier managing a persistent memory file system and a file system tier managing a storage file system separate from the persistent memory file system; and transmitting, by the persistent memory file system while the framing process is enabled, a framing operation from the persistent memory tier to the file system tier.
Venketaraman teaches a node hosting a storage operating system storage stack separately implementing a persistent memory tier managing a persistent memory file system hosted within the node and a file system tier to manage the storage file system hosted within a node separate from the persistent memory file system (e.g. Venketaraman, see paragraph [0057], which discloses creating a first snapshot for data units stored at a persistent memory of a computing device, the data units manages by a first file system, transferring metadata associated with the data units and the data units stored at the persistent memory to a storage device managed by a second file system using a logical object, the second file system executed by a storage system interfacing with the computing device.); and
transmitting, by the persistent memory file system while the framing process is enabled, a framing operation from the persistent memory tier of the node to the file system tier of the node (e.g. Venketaraman, see paragraph [0057], which discloses creating a first snapshot for data units stored at a persistent memory of a computing device, the data units manages by a first file system, transferring metadata associated with the data units and the data units stored at the persistent memory to a storage device managed by a second file system using a logical object, the second file system executed by a storage system interfacing with the computing device; and generating a second snapshot of the logical object at the storage device, the second snapshot including data units and associated metadata of the first snapshot.).
Ou-Yang is directed to configurable recovery states. Venketaraman is directed to protecting data of a persistent memory based file system. Both are analogous art because they are directed to persistent changes of a snapshot and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the teachings of Ou-Yang with the teachings of Venketaraman to include the claimed features with the motivation to improve persistent memory based file systems.
The modified teaching of Ou-Yang and Venketaraman do not explicitly teach executing, by the node through the persistent memory file system, a modify operation upon persistent memory of the node to modify blocks within the persistent memory file system, wherein the modify operation bypasses the storage file system based upon a forwarding mechanism being disabled; and based upon the modify operation being executed through the persistent memory file system of the node and bypassing the storage file system of the node.
Subramanian teaches executing, by the node through the persistent memory file system (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0088], which discloses a persistent memory file system and the persistent memory tier for managing the file system are implemented in the persistent memory.), a modify operation upon persistent memory of the node to modify blocks within the persistent memory file system (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0086], which discloses the storage operating system of the node may implement a storage file system that manages the storage and client access of data within the storage object stored within the storage, where the client device may create, delete, organize, modify and/or access files within directories of a volume managed by the storage file system.), wherein the modify operation bypasses the storage file system based upon a forwarding mechanism being disabled (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0078], which discloses the information retrieved by the storage adapter prior to being forward over to the system. See further paragraphs [0088-0091], which discloses integrating the persistent memory into the node.); and based upon the modify operation being executed through the persistent memory file system of the node and bypassing the storage file system of the node (e.g. Subramarian, see paragraphs [0088-0091], which discloses based upon the modification, the persistent memory tier, managed by the file system tier is maintained higher in the storage operating system storage stack.).
Ou-Yang is directed to configurable recovery states. Venketaraman is directed to protecting data of a persistent memory based file system. Subramanian is directed to data management across a persistent memory tier and a file system tier. All are analogous art because they are directed to persistent changes of a snapshot and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the teachings of Ou-Yang with the teachings of Venketaraman and with the further teachings of Subramanian to include the claimed features with the motivation to improve persistent memory based file systems.
As per claim 22, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
executing the operation to create a snapshot of the data stored across the persistent memory file system and the storage file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraphs [0074-0075, which discloses changes are depicted as persistent changes when anchor point is defined, which causes the persistent changes to be available for future reboots, where a snapshot of memory contains the overlay data that may be captured.).
As per claim 23, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
implementing a timer for the framing process that scans the persistent memory file system to identify and frame the blocks within the persistent memory file system that comprise the more up-to-date data (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraphs [0028, 0050, 0052], which discloses a snapshot across various components and memory image, where a write filter enables data writes that are intended for the first partition to be redirected a memory location, virtual overlay, different partition or suitable storage location.); and
aborting the framing process based upon the timer timing out (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraphs [0074-0077], which discloses depicting a timing diagram that illustrates start-up of devices at t1 where device is in a known good state until t2, when anchor point is defined, changes are made, the changes are depicted as persistent changes when anchor point is defined which causes the persistent changes.).
As per claim 24 the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
setting snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the storage file system has received a snapshot request to create a snapshot as the operation (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 25, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
setting snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the persistent memory file system has been notified by the storage file system that a snapshot is to be created by the operation (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 26, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
setting snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the persistent memory file system has initiated the framing (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 27, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
setting snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the persistent memory file system has notified the storage file system that the framing is complete (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 28, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
setting snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the persistent memory file system has enabled the forwarding to bypass execution through the persistent memory file system of the operation received at a persistent memory tier (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file, in which case reads are fetched from the overlay file. The underlying volume may reside in the underlying hard drive.).
As per claim 29, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the method of claim 21, comprising:
setting snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the persistent memory file system has enabled forwarding to forward, from a persistent memory tier, the operation to a storage file system tier for execution by the storage file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file, in which case reads are fetched from the overlay file. The underlying volume may reside in the underlying hard drive.).
As per claim 30, Ou-Yang teaches a computing device comprising:
a memory comprising machine executable code (Ou-Yang, see Figure 1B, which discloses a memory coupled to a processor.); and
a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the machine executable code to cause the computing device (Ou-Yang, see Figure 1B, which discloses a memory coupled to a processor.) to:
enabling a framing process based upon a determination that an operation is to be performed for data stored across a persistent memory file system and a storage file system of a node (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0050], which discloses the user node operational state may correspond to a snapshot of the states across the various system components of the computer device and may include data about drivers, etc, where the snapshot contains overlay data that is captured.);
notifying the storage file system of the blocks within the persistent memory file system that comprise more up-to-date data than corresponding blocks within the storage file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.);
determining that the framing process is complete based upon the storage file system of the node being notified of the blocks comprising the more up-to-date data (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.); and
executing the operation based upon the framing process completing (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0074], which discloses a timing diagram which illustrates start-up of device where in a known good state, until when the anchor point is defined, changes are made, the changes are depicted as persistent changes when anchor point is defined which causes the persisted changes.).
Ou-Yang does not explicitly teach enabling, by a node hosting a storage operating system storage stack separately implementing a persistent memory tier managing a persistent memory file system and a file system tier managing a storage file system separate from the persistent memory file system; and transmitting, by the persistent memory file system while the framing process is enabled, a framing operation from the persistent memory tier to the file system tier.
Venketaraman teaches a node hosting a storage operating system storage stack separately implementing a persistent memory tier managing a persistent memory file system hosted within the node and a file system tier to manage the storage file system hosted within a node separate from the persistent memory file system (e.g. Venketaraman, see paragraph [0057], which discloses creating a first snapshot for data units stored at a persistent memory of a computing device, the data units manages by a first file system, transferring metadata associated with the data units and the data units stored at the persistent memory to a storage device managed by a second file system using a logical object, the second file system executed by a storage system interfacing with the computing device.); and
transmitting, by the persistent memory file system while the framing process is enabled, a framing operation from the persistent memory tier of the node to the file system tier of the node (e.g. Venketaraman, see paragraph [0057], which discloses creating a first snapshot for data units stored at a persistent memory of a computing device, the data units manages by a first file system, transferring metadata associated with the data units and the data units stored at the persistent memory to a storage device managed by a second file system using a logical object, the second file system executed by a storage system interfacing with the computing device; and generating a second snapshot of the logical object at the storage device, the second snapshot including data units and associated metadata of the first snapshot.).
Ou-Yang is directed to configurable recovery states. Venketaraman is directed to protecting data of a persistent memory based file system. Both are analogous art because they are directed to persistent changes of a snapshot and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the teachings of Ou-Yang with the teachings of Venketaraman to include the claimed features with the motivation to improve persistent memory based file systems.
The modified teaching of Ou-Yang and Venketaraman do not explicitly teach executing, by the node through the persistent memory file system, a modify operation upon persistent memory of the node to modify blocks within the persistent memory file system, wherein the modify operation bypasses the storage file system based upon a forwarding mechanism being disabled; and based upon the modify operation being executed through the persistent memory file system of the node and bypassing the storage file system of the node.
Subramanian teaches executing, by the node through the persistent memory file system (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0088], which discloses a persistent memory file system and the persistent memory tier for managing the file system are implemented in the persistent memory.), a modify operation upon persistent memory of the node to modify blocks within the persistent memory file system (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0086], which discloses the storage operating system of the node may implement a storage file system that manages the storage and client access of data within the storage object stored within the storage, where the client device may create, delete, organize, modify and/or access files within directories of a volume managed by the storage file system.), wherein the modify operation bypasses the storage file system based upon a forwarding mechanism being disabled (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0078], which discloses the information retrieved by the storage adapter prior to being forward over to the system. See further paragraphs [0088-0091], which discloses integrating the persistent memory into the node.); and based upon the modify operation being executed through the persistent memory file system of the node and bypassing the storage file system of the node (e.g. Subramarian, see paragraphs [0088-0091], which discloses based upon the modification, the persistent memory tier, managed by the file system tier is maintained higher in the storage operating system storage stack.).
Ou-Yang is directed to configurable recovery states. Venketaraman is directed to protecting data of a persistent memory based file system. Subramanian is directed to data management across a persistent memory tier and a file system tier. All are analogous art because they are directed to persistent changes of a snapshot and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the teachings of Ou-Yang with the teachings of Venketaraman and with the further teachings of Subramanian to include the claimed features with the motivation to improve persistent memory based file systems.
As per claim 31, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the computing device of claim 30, wherein the machine executable code causes the computing device to:
set snapshot creation state information to a state indicating a consistency point operation has initiated the creation of the snapshot (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 32, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the computing device of claim 30, wherein the machine executable code causes the computing device to:
set snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the persistent memory file system has been notified to create a snapshot image (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 33, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the computing device of claim 30, wherein the machine executable code causes the computing device to:
set snapshot creation state information to a state indicating that the persistent memory file system has disabled forwarding of operation to a storage file system tier (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 34, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the computing device of claim 30, wherein the machine executable code causes the computing device to:
implement a pending operation to either fully execute against the snapshot or fully execute against an active file system for which the snapshot is being created, wherein the pending operation is restricted from executing across both the snapshot and the active file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0030], which discloses reads sent to the protected volume may be sent to the underlying volume unless those sectors already exists in the overlay file.).
As per claim 35, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the computing device of claim 30, wherein the machine executable code causes the computing device to:
generate, by the persistent memory file system, a snapshot image as part of the snapshot (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraphs [0028, 0050, 0052], which discloses a snapshot across various components and memory image, where a write filter enables data writes that are intended for the first partition to be redirected a memory location, virtual overlay, different partition or suitable storage location.); and
add a hierarchical reference to the snapshot image (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraphs [0028, 0050, 0052], which discloses a snapshot across various components and memory image, where a write filter enables data writes that are intended for the first partition to be redirected a memory location, virtual overlay, different partition or suitable storage location.).
As per claim 36, Ou-Yang teaches a non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions, which when executed by a machine, causes the machine to:
enabling a framing process based upon a determination that an operation is to be performed for data stored across a persistent memory file system and a storage file system of a node (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0050], which discloses the user node operational state may correspond to a snapshot of the states across the various system components of the computer device and may include data about drivers, etc, where the snapshot contains overlay data that is captured.);
notifying the storage file system of the blocks within the persistent memory file system that comprise more up-to-date data than corresponding blocks within the storage file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.);
determining that the framing process is complete based upon the storage file system of the node being notified of the blocks comprising the more up-to-date data (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.); and
executing the operation based upon the framing process completing (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0074], which discloses a timing diagram which illustrates start-up of device where in a known good state, until when the anchor point is defined, changes are made, the changes are depicted as persistent changes when anchor point is defined which causes the persisted changes.).
Ou-Yang does not explicitly teach enabling, by a node hosting a storage operating system storage stack separately implementing a persistent memory tier managing a persistent memory file system and a file system tier managing a storage file system separate from the persistent memory file system; and transmitting, by the persistent memory file system while the framing process is enabled, a framing operation from the persistent memory tier to the file system tier.
Venketaraman teaches a node hosting a storage operating system storage stack separately implementing a persistent memory tier managing a persistent memory file system hosted within the node and a file system tier to manage the storage file system hosted within a node separate from the persistent memory file system (e.g. Venketaraman, see paragraph [0057], which discloses creating a first snapshot for data units stored at a persistent memory of a computing device, the data units manages by a first file system, transferring metadata associated with the data units and the data units stored at the persistent memory to a storage device managed by a second file system using a logical object, the second file system executed by a storage system interfacing with the computing device.); and
transmitting, by the persistent memory file system while the framing process is enabled, a framing operation from the persistent memory tier of the node to the file system tier of the node (e.g. Venketaraman, see paragraph [0057], which discloses creating a first snapshot for data units stored at a persistent memory of a computing device, the data units manages by a first file system, transferring metadata associated with the data units and the data units stored at the persistent memory to a storage device managed by a second file system using a logical object, the second file system executed by a storage system interfacing with the computing device; and generating a second snapshot of the logical object at the storage device, the second snapshot including data units and associated metadata of the first snapshot.).
Ou-Yang is directed to configurable recovery states. Venketaraman is directed to protecting data of a persistent memory based file system. Both are analogous art because they are directed to persistent changes of a snapshot and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the teachings of Ou-Yang with the teachings of Venketaraman to include the claimed features with the motivation to improve persistent memory based file systems.
The modified teaching of Ou-Yang and Venketaraman do not explicitly teach executing, by the node through the persistent memory file system, a modify operation upon persistent memory of the node to modify blocks within the persistent memory file system, wherein the modify operation bypasses the storage file system based upon a forwarding mechanism being disabled; and based upon the modify operation being executed through the persistent memory file system of the node and bypassing the storage file system of the node.
Subramanian teaches executing, by the node through the persistent memory file system (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0088], which discloses a persistent memory file system and the persistent memory tier for managing the file system are implemented in the persistent memory.), a modify operation upon persistent memory of the node to modify blocks within the persistent memory file system (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0086], which discloses the storage operating system of the node may implement a storage file system that manages the storage and client access of data within the storage object stored within the storage, where the client device may create, delete, organize, modify and/or access files within directories of a volume managed by the storage file system.), wherein the modify operation bypasses the storage file system based upon a forwarding mechanism being disabled (e.g. Subramanian, see paragraph [0078], which discloses the information retrieved by the storage adapter prior to being forward over to the system. See further paragraphs [0088-0091], which discloses integrating the persistent memory into the node.); and based upon the modify operation being executed through the persistent memory file system of the node and bypassing the storage file system of the node (e.g. Subramarian, see paragraphs [0088-0091], which discloses based upon the modification, the persistent memory tier, managed by the file system tier is maintained higher in the storage operating system storage stack.).
Ou-Yang is directed to configurable recovery states. Venketaraman is directed to protecting data of a persistent memory based file system. Subramanian is directed to data management across a persistent memory tier and a file system tier. All are analogous art because they are directed to persistent changes of a snapshot and therefore it would have been obvious to one of ordinary skilled in the art at the time the invention was filed to modify the teachings of Ou-Yang with the teachings of Venketaraman and with the further teachings of Subramanian to include the claimed features with the motivation to improve persistent memory based file systems.
As per claim 37, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 36, wherein the instructions cause the machine to:
in response to receiving a modify operation at the persistent memory tier, forward the modify operation as a forwarded operation to the storage file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.).
As per claim 38, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 37, wherein the instructions cause the machine to:
log the forwarded operation into a log of the node (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.); and
write the data of the forwarded operation to a target object within the storage file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraph [0029-0033], which discloses a write filter that is configured to intercept all modifications to any sector on a protected volume. Anytime the file system attempts to modify a protected sector, a notification occurs and the write filter may redirect the sector from the protected volume to an overlay.).
As per claim 39, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 38, wherein the instructions cause the machine to:
in response to the forwarded operation being logged in the log, remove a stale copy of the target object from the persistent memory file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraphs [0028, 0050, 0052], which discloses a snapshot across various components and memory image, where a write filter enables data writes that are intended for the first partition to be redirected a memory location, virtual overlay, different partition or suitable storage location.).
As per claim 40, the modified teachings of Ou-Yang with Venketaraman and Subramanian teaches the non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 38, wherein the instructions cause the machine to:
in response to the forwarded operation being logged in the log, perform a remote direct access memory transfer to notify a partner node that a stale copy of the target object was removed from the persistent memory file system (e.g. Ou-Yang, see paragraphs [0028, 0050, 0052], which discloses a snapshot across various components and memory image, where a write filter enables data writes that are intended for the first partition to be redirected a memory location, virtual overlay, different partition or suitable storage location.).
Conclusion
The prior art made of record and not relied upon is considered pertinent to applicant’s disclosure. See attached PTO-892 that includes additional prior art of record describing the general state of the art in which the invention is directed to.
Contact Information
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to FARHAN M SYED whose telephone number is (571)272-7191. The examiner can normally be reached M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM.
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/FARHAN M SYED/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 2161 September 24, 2026
