Method for distributing a file in a plurality of different file formats

• US 6,085,199 A
• Filed: 11/24/1997
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rose, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US08/977,635
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/205, 707/104, 707/1, 707/513, 707/526, 707/501
• US Class Current: 707/823
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1794 Details of file format conversion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/916 Audio
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A method and implementing computer system is provided in which a network file system is operable to report multiple virtual files in various formats for a single native file in storage. When one of the files is opened, the file system reads data from the single native file and converts the format on the fly to the destination format that was opened by the operating system. The operating system thus converts files spontaneously on request and provides a synthetic file in a desired one of a plurality of possible formats while requiring the storage of only one native content file in server memory. Further aspects of the file system include provisions for additional features including Directory, Open File, Read File, Write File and Seek operations.

Claims

1. A method for enabling a distribution from a first device of a base file in a base format to a requesting device in either said base format or at least one alternate format, said first device containing said base file in only said base format, said method comprising:

effecting a display of a listing of names corresponding to files in said base format and said alternate format;

enabling a user selection of at least one of said names displayed on said listing;

receiving a request to distribute said base file in either said base file format or said alternate format to said requesting device;

distributing said base file in said base format in response to a request to distribute said base file in said base format; and

in response to a request to distribute said base file in said alternate format, said method further including creating a new file in said alternate format from said base file in said base format, and distributing said new file to said requesting device.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said listing includes a plurality of names associated with a corresponding plurality of file formats, said creating further including creating a plurality of new files from said base file in accordance with said user selections.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said base file is a multimedia file.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3 wherein said multimedia file is an audio file.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

recognizing said request as a designated file read request, said designated file read request being generated by a selection of one of said names from said listing;

determining a format associated with said designated file; and

calling a file system to execute said designated file read request when said designated file is in said base format.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 and further including:

converting content of the base file to said new file in said alternate format when said designated file read request designates said alternate format.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

recognizing a designated file write request, said file write request being generated in connection with a selection of one of said names from said listing;

determining a format associated with said designated file; and

calling a file system to execute said designated file write request when said designated file is in said base format.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 and further including:

returning an error message when said designated file is in an alternate format.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

recognizing a designated file seek request;

determining a file format associated with said designated file;

converting a byte position associated with said designated file seek request in said alternate file format to a corresponding play time position relative to the designated file play time; and

converting the corresponding play time position of the designated file to a corresponding byte position.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 and further including:

returning play file data stream to said requesting device beginning from said corresponding byte position.

12. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said converting uses a linear relationship between corresponding play time positions and byte positions for corresponding base format and alternate format files.

13. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said converting uses a non-linear relationship between corresponding play time positions and byte positions for corresponding base format and alternate format files.

5. An information processing system including a system bus coupling together a processing means, a display device, a user input means and a receiving device, said information processing system further including a storage means coupled to said receiving device, said information processing system being selectively operable for enabling a distribution of a base file in a base format from said storage means to said requesting device in either said base format or at least one alternate format, said storage means containing said base file in only said base format, said information processing system being selectively operable to implement a method comprising:

effecting a display of a listing of names corresponding to files in said base format and said alternate format, said display being presented on said display device;

enabling a user selection from said user input means of at least one of said names displayed on said listing;

receiving a request by said storage means from said requesting device to distribute said base file in either said base file format or said alternate format to said requesting device;

distributing said base file from said storage means in said base format in response to a request to distribute said base file in said base format; and

in response to a request to distribute said base file from said storage means in said alternate format, said method further including creating a new file in said storage means in said alternate format from said base file in said base format, and distributing said new file from said storage means to said requesting device.

14. A storage medium including machine readable coded indicia, said storage medium being selectively coupled to a reading device, said reading device being selectively coupled to processing circuitry within an information processing system, said reading device being selectively operable to read said machine readable coded indicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said program signals being effective for enabling a distribution of a base file in a base format from a storage device to a requesting device in either said base format or at least one alternate format, said storage device containing said base file in only said base format, said program signals being selectively operable to implement a method comprising:

effecting a display of a listing of names corresponding to files in said base format and said alternate format;

enabling a user selection of at least one of said names displayed on said listing;

receiving a request to distribute said base file in either said base file format or said alternate format to said requesting device;

distributing said base file in said base format in response to a request to distribute said base file in said base format; and

in response to a request to distribute said base file in said alternate format, said method further including creating a new file in said alternate format from said base file in said base format, and distributing said new file to said requesting device.

15. An information processing system including a system bus coupling together a processing means, a display device, a user input means and a receiving device, said information processing system further including a storage means coupled to said receiving device, said information processing system being selectively operable for enabling a distribution of a base file in a base format from said base format or at least one alternate format, said storage means containing said base file in only said base format, said information processing system being selectively operable to implement a method comprising:

effecting a display of a listing of names corresponding to files in said base format and said alternate format, said display being presented on said display device;

enabling a user selection from said user input means of at least one of said names displayed on said listing;

receiving a request by said storage means from said requesting device to distribute said base file in either said base file format or said alternate format to said requesting device;

distributing said base file from said storage means in said base format in response to a request to distribute said base file in said base format; and

in response to a request to distribute said base file from said storage means in said alternate format, said method further including creating a new file in said storage means in said alternate format from said base file in said base format, and distributing said new file from said storage means to said requesting device.