Run-time application installation application layered system
First Claim
1. A layered computing system for accessing files in a base filesystem, said system comprising:
- a processor;
a data and program storage accessible by said processor, said storage comprising one or more data storage devices;
an operating system stored to said storage;
computer readable instructions located to said storage, wherein said instructions are executable by said processor to perform functions of;
receiving from an application a request to perform a file operation, the request containing a file reference appropriate to the base file system,identifying a plurality of enabled layers,after receiving the request, identifying a process from which the request originated,after identifying the requesting process, determining a priority for searching the enabled layers and the base filesystem, wherein if the requesting process is associated to one of the enabled layers, the one of the enabled layers is prioritized specially relative to a remaining number of enabled layers and the base filesystem,performing a search for a file object corresponding to the file reference, the search performed in an order determined by the priority,if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the enabled layers, returning a virtual file handle to the file object,if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the base filesystem, returning a base file handle to that file object,determining whether the requesting process is an installer process, andif the requesting process is determined to be an installer process, and if the file object is contained in a layer within the plurality of enabled layers, associating the requesting process with the layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventions relate generally to layered computing systems that provide public access to the content of the layers. Also disclosed herein are prioritization schemes usable in a layered computing system, including prioritization by layer type, by assigned priority weights, by access type, by sub-layers and by read-write indicators. Processes may further be associated to layers from which they originate, and priority given to associated layers thereby. Association may also be provided for installer services, thereby depositing an applications updates into its layer. Layers may also contain file reference information including exclusion or inclusion entries indicating what files may be written thereto. Paths recorded in layers may also embed variables to true paths on a layered system. Detailed information on various example embodiments of the inventions are provided in the Detailed Description below, and the inventions are defined by the appended claims.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A layered computing system for accessing files in a base filesystem, said system comprising:
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a processor; a data and program storage accessible by said processor, said storage comprising one or more data storage devices; an operating system stored to said storage; computer readable instructions located to said storage, wherein said instructions are executable by said processor to perform functions of; receiving from an application a request to perform a file operation, the request containing a file reference appropriate to the base file system, identifying a plurality of enabled layers, after receiving the request, identifying a process from which the request originated, after identifying the requesting process, determining a priority for searching the enabled layers and the base filesystem, wherein if the requesting process is associated to one of the enabled layers, the one of the enabled layers is prioritized specially relative to a remaining number of enabled layers and the base filesystem, performing a search for a file object corresponding to the file reference, the search performed in an order determined by the priority, if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the enabled layers, returning a virtual file handle to the file object, if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the base filesystem, returning a base file handle to that file object, determining whether the requesting process is an installer process, and if the requesting process is determined to be an installer process, and if the file object is contained in a layer within the plurality of enabled layers, associating the requesting process with the layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A set of computer readable media containing computer instructions for accessing files in a base filesystem, the set of computer readable media comprising at least one medium upon which is stored the computer instructions executable by a computing system to achieve functions of:
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receiving from an application a request to perform a file operation, the request containing a file reference appropriate to the base file system, identifying a plurality of enabled layers, after receiving the request, identifying a process from which the request originated, after identifying the requesting process, determining a priority for searching the enabled layers and the base filesystem, wherein if the requesting process is associated to one of the enabled layers, the one of the enabled layers is prioritized specially relative to a remaining number of enabled layers and the base filesystem, performing a search for a file object corresponding to the file reference, the search performed in an order determined by the priority, if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the enabled layers, returning a virtual file handle to the file object, if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the base filesystem, returning a base file handle to that file object, determining whether the requesting process is an installer process, and if the requesting process is determined to be an installer process, and if the file object is contained in a layer within the plurality of enabled layers, associating the requesting process with the layer. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of accessing files in a base filesystem, the method comprising:
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receiving from an application a request to perform a file operation, the request containing a file reference appropriate to the base file system, identifying a plurality of enabled layers, after receiving the request, identifying a process from which the request originated, after identifying the requesting process, determining a priority for searching the enabled layers and the base filesystem, wherein if the requesting process is associated to one of the enabled layers, the one of the enabled layers is prioritized specially relative to a remaining number of enabled layers and the base filesystem, performing a search for a file object corresponding to the file reference, the search performed in an order determined by the priority, if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the enabled layers, returning a virtual file handle to the file object, if, in performing the ordered search, the file object is found corresponding to the file reference in the base filesystem, returning a base file handle to that file object, determining whether the requesting process is an installer process, and if the requesting process is determined to be an installer process, and if the file object is contained in a layer within the plurality of enabled layers, associating the requesting process with the layer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification