Method for canonical ordering of binary data for portable operating systems

• US 4,956,809 A
• Filed: 12/29/1988
• Issued: 09/11/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark Williams Co.
• Original Assignee: Mark Williams Co.
• Inventors: Tudor, Frederick H., George, Johann, Thompson, Trevor J., Conroy, David G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaw, Gareth D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mills, John G.
• Application Number:
  US07/291,348
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 364/200, 364/900
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/116 Details of conversion of file system types or formats
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

A method for making files compatible between different computers having different binary structures while using the same operating system by keeping all files in a standardized canonical order when they move to or from external data storage or communication means. The method includes converting all binary data accessed from a file or communications channel from the canonical order to the natural order of the host computer before using the binary data in the host computer and converting all binary data which is to be sent to a file or communications channel from the natural order of the host computer to the canonical order before sending the binary data.

Claims

1. A method for use with a portable operating system used on different computers which use different binary structures, whereby files containing binary data become portable, comprising the steps of:

by means of a computer, representing in a standardized order consisting of a standard binary structure files stored on auxiliary memory or transported on a communications means, said standardized order being different from a natural order used on at least one of the different computers;

converting in each of the different computers binary data read from auxiliary data storage or communications means from the standardized order to the natural order of the respective host computer after said binary data are read from said auxiliary data storage or communications means and before said binary data are used by the respective host computer; and

converting in each of the different computers binary data written into auxiliary data storage or communications means from the natural order of the respective host computer to the standardized order prior to said writing.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said operating system comprises a UNIX like operating system.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said file comprises a file system and some or all of said binary data is converted.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said file comprises an object file expressed in binary.

5. A method for use on different computers which use different binary structures, whereby files containing binary data become portable between the computers, comprising the steps of:

representing by means of a computer files that are stored for use by one or more of the computers or are transported on a communications means to one or more of the computers, in a predetermined binary structure different than the binary structure used on at least one of the different computers;

converting in each of the computers binary data, to be stored for use by one or more of the computers or to be transported on said communications means to one or more of the computers, from the binary structure of the originating computer to the predetermined binary structure, and

converting in each of the computers binary data obtained from said stored files or from said communications means from said predetermined binary structure to the binary structure used by said computer.