A Computer System with File Attribute Extension
First Claim
1. A computer system with a file attribute extension function, the computer system comprising:
- a) a file storage subsystem for storing numerous files each accessible through its pre-assigned file address and each file further includes a file content and a legacy file attribute of legacy attribute size (Mike;
why we need legacy attribute size? Can we remove this item?);
b) a memory;
c) at least one processor, including programming, for executing instructions implementing an Operating System (OS) and at least one application program, said at least one processor being coupled to said file storage subsystem and said memory to permit data transfer there between, said OS further including;
c1) a legacy virtual file system for receiving a call from within said OS and effecting a corresponding read/write operation accessing said each file;
c2) a file attribute extension means for adding desired extended file attribute to said legacy file attribute, said file attribute extension means further including;
c21) during creation of said extended file attribute, adding said extended file attribute to said legacy file attribute by concatenating an encoded file content extension of a pre-defined extension file size, embedding said extended file attribute, to said file content; and
c22) during access of said extended file attribute, accessing, decoding said encoded file content extension and accessing the decoded extended file attribute;
c3) an Application Programming Interface (API) means, invokable by the execution of instructions of said at least one application program, for generating a system call to access said each file with said extended file attribute; and
c4) said system call for firstly calling said legacy virtual file system thus accessing said each file together with its legacy file attribute and said concatenated encoded file content extension, and secondly accessing the extended file attribute via said file attribute extension means thereby achieving the file attribute extension function without modifying said legacy virtual file system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer OS with an extended file attribute (EFA) is proposed to extend, without modifying a legacy virtual file system, the legacy file attribute of legacy files where each legacy file includes a file content and a legacy file attribute. The OS has a file attribute extension mechanism for adding EFA to the legacy file attribute. The file attribute extension mechanism includes: a) During EFA creation, adding EFA to legacy file attribute by concatenating an encoded file content extension to the file content. b) During EFA access, decoding the encoded file content extension and accessing the EFA. Also included is an Application Programming Interface (API) mechanism for generating system call to access each file. In turn, the system call firstly calls the legacy virtual file system to access each file plus legacy file attribute and concatenated encoded file content extension, and secondly accesses EFA via the file attribute extension mechanism.
21 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer system with a file attribute extension function, the computer system comprising:
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a) a file storage subsystem for storing numerous files each accessible through its pre-assigned file address and each file further includes a file content and a legacy file attribute of legacy attribute size (Mike;
why we need legacy attribute size? Can we remove this item?);
b) a memory;
c) at least one processor, including programming, for executing instructions implementing an Operating System (OS) and at least one application program, said at least one processor being coupled to said file storage subsystem and said memory to permit data transfer there between, said OS further including;
c1) a legacy virtual file system for receiving a call from within said OS and effecting a corresponding read/write operation accessing said each file;
c2) a file attribute extension means for adding desired extended file attribute to said legacy file attribute, said file attribute extension means further including;
c21) during creation of said extended file attribute, adding said extended file attribute to said legacy file attribute by concatenating an encoded file content extension of a pre-defined extension file size, embedding said extended file attribute, to said file content; and
c22) during access of said extended file attribute, accessing, decoding said encoded file content extension and accessing the decoded extended file attribute;
c3) an Application Programming Interface (API) means, invokable by the execution of instructions of said at least one application program, for generating a system call to access said each file with said extended file attribute; and
c4) said system call for firstly calling said legacy virtual file system thus accessing said each file together with its legacy file attribute and said concatenated encoded file content extension, and secondly accessing the extended file attribute via said file attribute extension means thereby achieving the file attribute extension function without modifying said legacy virtual file system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for extending the file attribute of numerous files stored within a file storage subsystem of a computer system having at least one processor for executing instructions implementing an Operating System (OS) and at least one application program, wherein the OS further includes a legacy virtual file system layer for receiving a call from within the OS and effecting a corresponding read/write operation accessing each of the numerous files and each file further includes a file content and a legacy file attribute, the method comprising:
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a1) creating a desired extended file attribute and adding said extended file attribute to said legacy file attribute by encoding and concatenating an encoded file content extension of a pre-defined extension file size, embedding said extended file attribute, to said file content;
a2) providing an Application Programming Interface (API), invokable by the execution of instructions of said at least one application program, for generating a system call to access said each file with said extended file attribute; and
a3) with said system call, firstly calling said legacy virtual file system and accessing said each file together with its legacy file attribute and said concatenated encoded file content extension, and secondly decoding the accessed encoded file content extension to access the desired extended file attribute thereby extending the file attribute without modifying said legacy virtual file system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification