System and method for storing and retrieving filenames and files in computer memory using multiple encodings

• US 6,434,574 B1
• Filed: 12/17/1998
• Issued: 08/13/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Brady, Donald J., Day, Mark S., Horn, Deric S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARDO, THUY N
• Application Number:
  US09/213,199
• Time in Patent Office: 1,335 Days
• Field of Search: 707/3, 707/5, 707/103, 707/200, 707/1, 707/10, 707/536, 707/203, 345/467, 704/7, 382/186
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

The invention receives a request to store a file having a filename written in a first text encoding, converts the filename into a Unicode filename and stores the Unicode filename and the file into memory. The invention then sets a flag, associated with the memory, indicating that a first test encoding has been used. To retrieve a Unicode filename, the invention receives a request to locate a Unicode filename from memory. Next, the invention uses a predetermined text encoding to convert the filename in to Unicode. The invention then searches for the Unicode filename in the memory. If the Unicode filename is not found, the invention uses a next text encoding from the set of text encodings which have been used, to repeat the conversion and searches the memory until the Unicode filename is identified. Lastly, the Unicode file is retrieved.

Claims

1. A method for storing filenames in and retrieving filenames from a memory device, the method comprising:

determining a default text encoding based on a text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to said memory device;

converting a filename from said default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;

storing the converted filename in said memory device;

receiving a retrieval request;

converting said retrieval request from said default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;

searching said memory device for a filename which matches the converted retrieval request;

retrieving the file having the matching filename from said memory device; and

modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of said default text encoding.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said converting a filename is unsuccessful, and further including converting said filename to Unicode text encoding based on Roman text encoding.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said converting said retrieval request is unsuccessful and further including:

determining if Roman text encoding is a default text encoding in said memory device; and

if Roman text encoding is not a default text encoding, then using Roman text encoding to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

retrieving a list of previously-used text encodings from said encoding bitmap;

using text encodings from said list to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding; and

repeating said searching.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

converting said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding based on any text encodings installed in said memory device; and

repeating said searching.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein said converting said retrieval request is unsuccessful and further including converting said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding based on any text encodings installed in said memory device.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

determining if Roman text encoding is a default text encoding in said memory device;

if Roman text encoding is not a default text encoding, then using Roman text encoding to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding; and

repeating said searching.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

converting said filename to Unicode text encoding based on Roman text encoding; and

repeating said searching.

9. A system for storing filenames in and retrieving filenames from a memory device, comprising:

means for determining a default text encoding based on a text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to said memory device;

means for converting a filename from said default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;

means for storing the converted filename in said memory device;

means for receiving a retrieval request;

means for converting said retrieval request from said default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;

means for searching said memory device for a filename which matches the converted retrieval request;

means for retrieving the file having the matching filename from said memory device; and

means for modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of said default text encoding.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for converting a filename is unsuccessful, and including further means for next converting said filename to Unicode text encoding based on Roman text encoding.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for converting said retrieval request is unsuccessful and further including:

means for determining if Roman text encoding is a default text encoding in said memory device; and

if Roman text encoding is not a default text encoding, then means for using Roman text encoding to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said means for searching is unsuccessful and further including:

means for retrieving a list of previously-used text encodings from said encoding bitmap;

means for using text encodings from said list to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding; and

means for repeating said means for searching.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for searching is unsuccessful and further including:

means for converting said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding based on any text encodings installed in said memory device; and

means for repeating said searching.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for converting said retrieval request is unsuccessful and further including means for converting said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding based on any text encodings installed in said memory device.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said means for searching is unsuccessful and further including:

means for determining if Roman text encoding is a default text encoding in said memory device;

means for if Roman text encoding is not a default text encoding, then using Roman text encoding to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding; and

means for repeating said searching.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said means for searching is unsuccessful and further including:

means for converting said filename to Unicode text encoding based on Roman text encoding; and

means for repeating said searching.

17. A computer-readable medium for storing instructions for causing a computer to perform:

determining a default text encoding based on a text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to a memory device;

converting a filename from said default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;

storing the converted filename in said memory device;

receiving a retrieval request;

converting said retrieval request from said default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;

searching said memory device for a filename which matches the converted retrieval request;

retrieving the file having the matching filename from said memory device; and

modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of said default text encoding.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein said converting a filename is unsuccessful, and further including converting said filename to Unicode text encoding based on Roman text encoding.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein said converting said retrieval request is unsuccessful and further including:

determining if Roman text encoding is a default text encoding in said memory device; and

if Roman text encoding is not a default text encoding, then using Roman text encoding to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

retrieving a list of previously-used text encodings from said encoding bitmap;

using text encodings from said list to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding; and

repeating said searching.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

converting said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding based on any text encodings installed in said memory device; and

repeating said searching.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20 wherein said converting said retrieval request is unsuccessful and further including converting said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding based on any text encodings installed in said memory device.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

determining if Roman text encoding is a default text encoding in said memory device;

if Roman text encoding is not a default text encoding, then using Roman text encoding to convert said retrieval request to Unicode text encoding; and

repeating said searching.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein said searching is unsuccessful and further including:

converting said filename to Unicode text encoding based on Roman text encoding; and

repeating and searching.