Method for mapping a file specification to a sequence of actions

• US 5,822,746 A
• Filed: 07/05/1995
• Issued: 10/13/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trustus Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Trustus Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Williams, Ross Neil
• Primary Examiner(s): Von Buhr, Maria N.
• Application Number:
  US08/525,280
• Time in Patent Office: 1,196 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 707/1, 707/7, 707/100-102, 707/104
• US Class Current: 707/758
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing

Abstract

A method for mapping a file specification to a sequence of zero or more actions. A file specification consists of any finite string of bits that provides information about the identity of a file in a computer'"'"'s file system. An action can be any process that effects a change upon the computer system containing the file. The mapping method involves sequentially applying a list of pattern/action rules, with each rule'"'"'s action being executed if the rule'"'"'s pattern matches the file specification. Upon completion, the series of actions that has been executed is the sequence of actions corresponding to the file specification.

Claims

1. A mapping method that maps a file specification to a finite sequence of two or more actions using a finite list of two or more productions, each production consisting of a pattern and an action, such that the list comprises at least two different actions, said method comprising the steps of:

a) setting the current production to the first production in the list of productions, and setting said sequence of actions to empty;

b) matching the current production'"'"'s pattern with a target file specification;

c) if the matching of step b succeeded, executing the current production'"'"'s action, or appending the action to said sequence of actions;

d) setting the current production to the next production in the list of productions;

e) repeating steps b through d until all productions have been processed.

2. A mapping method in accordance with claim 1 wherein step e is:

e) if the production of b did not fire, go back to step b if there are any more productions in the list.

3. A mapping method in accordance with claim 1 wherein each action in step c consists only of the modification of one or more values of a set of one or more variables.

4. A mapping method in accordance with claim 2 wherein each action in step c consists only of the modification of one or more components of a set of one or more variables.

5. A mapping method in accordance with claim 1 wherein each action in step c consists only of the addition or subtraction of members from a predefined set.

6. A mapping method in accordance with claim 2 wherein each action consists only of the addition or subtraction of members from a predefined set.

7. A mapping method in accordance with claim 1 wherein each action consists only of the setting or resetting of a boolean variable.

8. A mapping method in accordance with claim 2 wherein each action consists only of the setting or resetting of a boolean variable.

9. A mapping method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the pattern defines constraints not only on the file specification, but on one or more attributes of the file as well.

10. A mapping method in accordance with claim 2 wherein each pattern defines constraints not only on the file specification, but on one or more attributes of the file as well.