Method and apparatus for distributing files on a file storage device

• US 5,678,046 A
• Filed: 05/05/1995
• Issued: 10/14/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corporation (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Wilson, Philip, Levine, Glenn, Cahill, Thomas, Goldfisher, Saul
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, CHERYL RENEA
• Application Number:
  US08/436,027
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 364/406
• US Class Current: 707/829
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/12 Accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/987 with the intervention of an operator
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/956 Hierarchical
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A method and apparatus for storing and retrieving images of documents, e.g. checks. The method comprises placing a plurality of documents in a document imaging machine and forming an electronic image of each document, storing each electronic image in an electronic storage device, providing at least one user interface device in communication on a communication link with the electronic storage device, placing a request for at least one document image on the user interface device, transmitting the request by the communication link to the electronic storage device, searching the electronic storage device for the requested electronic image of the document, retrieving the at least one electronic image or providing an indication that the image was not found, storing the electronic image, if found, in an electronic file, for transmission to the user interface device at user option, providing the electronic image to the user interface device at command of a user at the user interface device for storage at the user interface device and displaying the requested electronic image on a display of the user interface device. Preferably, the electronic, images are stored with embedded identifying information in a TIFF® (trademark of Aldus Corp.) file format and the check images can be displayed on a display device which permits the user to view both sides of the checks simultaneously and perform functions such as zooming and rotation of the images.

Claims

1. A method of naming and storing a plurality of files distributed over a plurality of hierarchical directories in a file storage device, wherein each file of the plurality of files has a unique identifier, and wherein a path and name of each of the plurality of files is representative of the unique identifier associated with the file, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a file name from at least one of the least significant characters of the unique identifier;

determining a maximum desired size of a directory name that enables a desired access time;

determining a remaining number of characters as the number of characters in the unique identifier less the number of characters used to form the file name;

computing the minimum number of directory names of the maximum desired size or smaller that can be formed from the remaining number of characters;

segmenting the remaining characters in the unique identifier into the minimum number of directory names, wherein the most significant characters are placed in the most significant directory names;

forming a path from the directory names, wherein the most significant directory name has hierarchical precedence in the path;

determining whether the path exists on the file storage device, and if not, creating directories necessary to create the path;

storing the file on the file storage device under the file name in the directory corresponding to the path.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining a maximum number of characters desired in the file name;

determining a number of characters in the unique identifier; and

wherein step (a) comprises forming the file name having a length corresponding to the smaller of the maximum number of characters desired in the file name or the number of characters in the unique identifier.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein the maximum number of characters desired in the file name is 2.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum desired size of a directory name is 4.

5. Apparatus for naming and storing a plurality of files distributed over a plurality of hierarchical directories in a file storage device, wherein each file of the plurality of files has a unique identifier, and wherein a path and name of each of the plurality of files is representative of the unique identifier associated with the file, comprising:

means for forming a file name from at least one of the least significant characters of the unique identifier;

means for determining a maximum desired size of a directory name that enables a desired access time;

means for determining a remaining number of characters as the number of characters in the unique identifier less the number of characters used to form the file name;

means for computing the minimum number of directory names of the maximum desired size or smaller that can be formed from the remaining number of characters;

means for segmenting the remaining characters in the unique identifier into the minimum number of directory names, wherein the most significant characters are placed in the most significant directory names;

means for forming a path from the directory names, wherein the most significant directory name has hierarchical precedence in the path;

means for determining whether the path exists on the file storage device, and if not, creating directories necessary to create the path;

means for storing the file on the file storage device under the file name in the directory corresponding to the path.

6. The apparatus claimed in claim 5, further comprising:

means for determining a maximum number of characters desired in the file name;

means for determining a number of characters in the unique identifier; and

wherein the means for forming a file name comprises a means forming the file name having a length corresponding to the smaller of the maximum number of characters desired in the file name or the number of characters in the unique identifier.

7. The apparatus claimed in claim 6, wherein the maximum number of characters desired in the file name is 2.

8. The apparatus claimed in claim 5, wherein the maximum desired size of a directory name is 4.

9. A method of naming and storing a plurality of files distributed over a plurality of hierarchical directories in a file storage device, wherein each of the plurality of files has a unique identifier, and wherein a path and a name of each of the plurality of files is representative of the unique identifier associated with the file, the method comprising the steps of:

forming a file name from at least one of the characters of the unique identifier;

determining a maximum desired size of a directory name in the hierarchical directories that enables a desired access time;

determining remaining characters of the unique identifier, the remaining characters comprising all of the characters of the unique identifier except for the at least one character used to form the file name;

determining a number of characters in the remaining characters;

computing a minimum number of directory names of the maximum desired size or smaller that can be formed from the number of characters;

segmenting the remaining characters into the minimum number of directory names;

forming a path from the directory names;

storing the file on the file storage device under the file name in the directory corresponding to the path.

10. The method claimed in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

determining a maximum number of characters desired in the file name;

determining a number of characters in the unique identifier; and

wherein step (a) comprises forming the file name having a length corresponding to the smaller of the maximum number of characters desired in the file name or the number of characters in the unique identifier.

11. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein the maximum number of characters desired in the file name is 2.

12. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein the maximum desired size of a directory name is 4.

13. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein the step of storing comprises determining whether the path exists on the file storage device, and if not, creating directories necessary to create the path on the file storage device.