Method and system for retrieving sharable information using a hierarchically dependent directory structure
First Claim
1. A method for accessing files in a data processing system, the system including a plurality of directories, a plurality of modules, a plurality of files, and a plurality of links interconnecting the directories to form a directed acyclic graph, each one of the plurality of directories associated with one of the plurality of modules, each one of the modules requiring at least one of the plurality of files, a group of the plurality of directories each including at least one of the plurality of links, the method comprising the steps of:
- selecting one of the plurality of modules;
selecting the file required by the module;
searching the directory associated with the module for the file;
determining whether the file is located in the directory; and
when it is determined that the file is not located in the directory, accessing the link that interconnects the directory with another one of the directories to identify the other directory;
searching the other directory for the file;
determining whether the file is located in the other directory; and
when it is determined that the file is not located in the other directory, repeating the steps of accessing, searching the other directory, and determining whether the file is located in the other directory until the file is located.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for storing and retrieving files is provided, wherein a plurality of directory storage areas are arranged hierarchically in the form of a directed acyclic graph in secondary storage to store files of modules or software components of application programs or operating systems. Shared use of modules or software components is enabled through the use of directory links, enabling access from a module or software component at a first directory storage area to a software component at a second directory storage area. The directory links may be stored in association with the directory storage areas, and may include information of a dependent directory storage area, such as an address or path in a directory tree.
78 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for accessing files in a data processing system, the system including a plurality of directories, a plurality of modules, a plurality of files, and a plurality of links interconnecting the directories to form a directed acyclic graph, each one of the plurality of directories associated with one of the plurality of modules, each one of the modules requiring at least one of the plurality of files, a group of the plurality of directories each including at least one of the plurality of links, the method comprising the steps of:
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selecting one of the plurality of modules;
selecting the file required by the module;
searching the directory associated with the module for the file;
determining whether the file is located in the directory; and
when it is determined that the file is not located in the directory, accessing the link that interconnects the directory with another one of the directories to identify the other directory;
searching the other directory for the file;
determining whether the file is located in the other directory; and
when it is determined that the file is not located in the other directory, repeating the steps of accessing, searching the other directory, and determining whether the file is located in the other directory until the file is located. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method in a data processing system having a program and a plurality of directories, a first one of the directories having a link to a second one of the directories, the method comprising the steps of:
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initiating execution of the program; and
during execution of the program, accessing the first directory to determine whether a needed file is located in the first directory; and
when it is determined that the needed file is not located in the first directory, accessing the link to determine the second directory as an alternative location for the needed file; and
accessing the second directory to determine if the needed file is contained therein. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 20)
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12. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions that cause a data processing system, the system having a program and a plurality of directories, a first one of the directories having a first link to a second one of the directories, to perform the steps of:
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initiating execution of the program; and
during execution of the program, accessing the first directory to determine whether a needed file is located in the first directory; and
when it is determined that the needed file is not located in the first directory, accessing the link to determine the second directory as an alternative location for the needed file; and
accessing the second directory to determine whether the needed file is contained therein. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A data processing system comprising:
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a storage unit containing a first directory having a link and a second directory;
a memory having a program that accesses the first directory to determine whether a needed file is in the first directory, and when it is determined that the needed file is not located in the first directory, accesses the link to determine the second directory as an alternative location for the needed file, and accesses the second directory to determine whether the needed file is contained therein; and
a processor for running the program. - View Dependent Claims (19, 21)
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22. A data processing system having a program and a plurality of directories, a first one of the directories having a link to a second one of the directories, the data processing system comprising:
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means for initiating execution of the program;
means for accessing the first directory to determine whether a needed file is located in the first directory during execution of the program;
means for accessing the link to determine the second directory as an alternative location for the needed file during execution of the program and when it is determined that the needed file is not located in the first directory; and
means for accessing the second directory to determine if the needed file is contained therein during execution of the program and when it is determined that the needed file is not located in the first directory.
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Specification