(19)

(11)

EP 2 100 235 A2

(12)

(43) Date of publication: 16.09.2009 Bulletin 2009/38 (21) Application number: 06733911.9 (22) Date of filing: 25.01.2006

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):  G06F 17/30(2006.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US2006/002725 (87) International publication number: WO 2007/086844 (02.08.2007 Gazette 2007/31)

(84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR Designated Extension States: AL BA HR MK YU (71) Applicant: Network Appliance, Inc. Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (US)	(72) Inventors: MERRICK, Jeffrey Sunnyvale, California 94089 (US) MCGOVERN, William Sunnyvale, California 94089 (US) (74) Representative: Forsythe, Dominic  J.A. Kemp & Co. 14 South Square Gray's Inn London WC1R 5JJ London WC1R 5JJ (GB)