File system for storing multiple files as a single compressed file

• US 20040064462A1
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Published: 04/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Alan G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,653,632 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

A file archive system for storing multiple files and directories as a single file. The file archive system could be used on a hand-held computer or other computing device. The file archive system in a preferred embodiment has an operating system with a loadable file system. In another embodiment, the file archive system includes a file archive structure for storing multiple files as a single file.

Claims

1. A software program stored on a computer media for a computer device which provides a file archive system for storing multiple files as a single file comprising:

a file manager that communicates with an archive file, having a directory navigation system and a read/write file system, and wherein the archive file comprises;

a fixed header block in the file that does not change when files are added to the archive,

a first information block group with a link block having a pointer to a second information block group, and

a file information block in the first or second information block group containing pointers which point to a data file.

2. The software program of claim 1, wherein the files in the archive file appear to an application software program to be files in a disk file directory.

3. The software program of claim 1, further comprising an operating system with a loadable file system.

4. The software program of claim 1, wherein at least one information block group further contains a directory block which contains directory information.

5. The software program of claim 4, wherein the file information block, directory information block and link block have a common set of information in the first byte.

6. The software program of claim 5, wherein the common set of information in the first byte of the blocks includes a bit to establish the block type.

7. A software program stored on a computer media for a handheld computer device which provides a file archive system for storing multiple files as a single file comprising:

a file manager that communicates with an archive file, having a directory navigation system and a read/write file system, and wherein the archive file comprises;

a fixed header block in the file that does not change when files are added to the archive,

a plurality of information block groups each with a link block having a pointer to another of the plurality of information block groups except the last link block having an end of file code,

at least one directory block in one of the information block groups, and

at least one file information block in one of the information block groups containing pointers which point to a data file space dispersed in the archive file between the plurality of information block groups.

8. The software program of claim 7, wherein the files in the archive file appear to an application software program to be files in a disk file directory.

9. The software program of claim 7, further comprising an operating system with a loadable file system.

10. The software program of claim 7, wherein the file information block, directory information block and link block have a common set of information in the first byte.

11. The software program of claim 10, wherein the common set of information in the first byte of the blocks includes a bit to establish the block type.

12. A handheld computing device with a file archive system for storing multiple files as a single file comprising comprising:

a display screen;

an input device for operating the computing device and entering user responses;

a processor for executing programming that provides the file archive system further comprising;

a file manager that communicates with an archive file, having a directory navigation system and a read/write file system, and wherein the archive file comprises;

a fixed header block in the file that does not change when files are added to the archive,

a first information block group with a link block having a pointer to a second information block group, and

a file information block in the first or second information block group containing pointers which point to a data file.

13. The handheld computing device of claim 12, wherein the files in the archive file appear to an application software program to be files in a disk file directory.

14. The handheld computing device of claim 12, wherein at least one information block group further contains a directory block which contains directory information.

15. The handheld computing device of claim 12, further comprising an operating system with a loadable file system.

16. The handheld computing device of claim 14, wherein the file information block, directory information block and link block have a common set of information in the first byte.

17. The handheld computing device of claim 16, wherein the common set of information in the first byte of the blocks includes a bit to establish the block type.