Method and apparatus to improve file management

• US 6,928,426 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2000
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Dake, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Uyen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, TE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/751,862
• Publication Number:
  US 20020138501A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,683 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/200, 707 3- 10, 707100-102, 707/103.2, 707/205, 709/223, 709/203, 709220-224, 716/16, 702 61- 62, 382/100, 725/100, 725/139, 725/36, 725/91, 725/93
• US Class Current: 707/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

Techniques to manage a file are described. An apparatus may comprise a file system interface for a client to receive a request for a file having a file name. The client may generate a unique identifier for the file name in response to the request using a stream cone messaging system, with the unique identifier to represent the file name and comprising a fewer number of bits than the file name. An interconnect system connected to the client may communicate the unique identifier and file name to the server. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

receiving a first request by a file system interface for a client to access a file having a file name;

generating an identifier for said file name by said client in response to said first request using a stream cone messaging system, with said identifier to represent said file name and comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name; and

sending said first request to a server with said identifier and said file name.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing said identifier and file name in memory.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an acknowledgement message from said server.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second request at said client to access said file;

retrieving said identifier associated with said file name from said memory; and

sending said second request to said server using said associated identifier.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said first and second requests specify a file operation.

6. A computer-implemented method to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

receiving a first request from a client at a server to access a file having a file name and identifier, said identifier to represent said file name and to comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name, with said identifier generated by a client in response to said first request using a stream cone messaging system; and

sending an acknowledgement message to said client.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

searching for location information for said file;

associating said location information with said identifier; and

storing said location information and said identifier in memory.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a second request at said server to access said file using said identifier; and

retrieving said location information from said memory using said identifier.

9. A computer-implemented method to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

receiving a file request having a file name by a file system interface for a client;

generating an identifier for said file name using a stream cone messaging system;

sending said identifier and said file name to a server;

searching for location information using said file name; and

storing said location information with said identifier.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending an acknowledgement message to said client.

11. A computer-implemented method to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

receiving a file request with a file name by a file system interface for a client;

generating an identifier for said file name by said file system interface in response to said first request using a stream cone messaging system, said unique identifier to represent said file name and comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name; and

sending said unique identifier and file name to a file system manager.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving said unique identifier and said file name at said file system manager;

searching for file information using said file name; and

storing said file information using said unique identifier.

13. A computer-readable medium tangibly embodied with software for execution by a computer to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

a storage medium;

said storage medium including stored instructions that, when executed by a processor, result in receiving a first request by a file system interface for a client to access a file having a file name, generating an identifier for said file name by said client in response to said first request using a stream cone messaging system, with said identifier to represent said file name and comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name, and sending said first request to a server with said identifier and said file name.

14. The article of claim 13, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by a processor, further results in storing said identifier and file name in memory.

15. The article of claim 13, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by a processor, further results in receiving an acknowledgement message from said server.

16. The article of claim 13, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by a processor, further results in receiving a second request at said client to access said file, retrieving said identifier associated with said file name from said memory, and sending said second request to said server using said associated identifier.

17. A computer-readable medium tangibly embodied with software for execution by a computer to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

a storage medium;

said storage medium including stored instructions that, when executed by a processor, result in receiving a file request having a file name by a file system interface for a client, generating an identifier for said file name by said client in response to said first request using a stream cone messaging system, said identifier to represent said file name and comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name, sending said identifier and said file name to a server, searching for location information using said file name, and storing said location information with said identifier.

18. The article of claim 17, wherein the stored instructions, when executed by a processors further result in sending an acknowledgement message to said client.

19. An apparatus to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

a file system interface for a client to receive a request for a file having a file name, said client to generate a unique identifier for said file name in response to said request using a stream cone messaging system, said unique identifier to represent said file name and comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name, and send said unique identifier and said file name to a server; and

an interconnect system connected to said client to communicate said unique identifier and said file name to said server.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a server to receive said unique identifier and file name, said server to locate information for said file and store said information using said unique identifier.

21. An apparatus to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

a file interface system for a client to generate an identifier for a file name in response to a file request using a stream cone messaging system, said identifier to represent said file name and comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name;

a server to locate file information using said file name and store said file information using said identifier; and

an interconnect system to transport said file name and said identifier between said client and said server.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said client comprises an operating system service module.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said server comprises an intermediate service module.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein said interconnect system operates in accordance with a peripheral component interconnect system and an I₂O system.

25. An apparatus to represent a file name with an identifier to improve performance of an interconnect system, comprising:

a file system interface for a client to receive a request for a file having a file name and generate a unique identifier for said file name in response to said request using a stream cone messaging system, said identifier to represent said file name and comprise a fewer number of bits than said file name;

a file system manager to locate file information using said file name and store said file information using said unique identifier; and

a communications system to communicate said unique identifier and said file name between said file system interface and said file system manager.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein said communications system campuses;

a communications medium comprising at least one of a group comprising twisted pair wire, co-axial cable, fiber optic and radio-frequencies; and

a communications interface to operate in accordance with a set of communication protocols.