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Device driver for accessing computer files

  • US 5,907,703 A
  • Filed: 05/08/1996
  • Issued: 05/25/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A computer device driver within an operating system for accessing compressed files held in archives in a storage device, said device driver comprising:

  • means for creating virtual files and folders in a random access memory (RAM), said virtual files and folders corresponding to files and folders in said archives and appearing to users as files and folders within an existing folder;

    means for representing said virtual files and folders from said storage device;

    means for making available the contents of said virtual files and folders to all levels of an operating system;

    means for reading a compressed file corresponding to a virtual file from said storage device, decompressing said compressed file in said RAM and retaining the decompressed file in said RAM in whole or in part so that operations can be performed on the decompressed file by the operating system;

    means for accessing said decompressed file in said RAM and changing the contents of said file;

    means for updating said file in said archives after an operation on said file;

    means for selectively supplying said operating system with information from said file; and

    means for returning said file to said archive in said storage device.

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