File type associative application layered system

• US 7,542,988 B1
• Filed: 01/03/2006
• Issued: 06/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Scott, Hurren, Jeremy, Cook, Randall
• Primary Examiner(s): AL HASHEMI, SANA A
• Application Number:
  US11/324,545
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 707100-102, 707/9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

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.

Claims

1. A layered computing system for accessing files and registry settings in a base file system, 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 or registry operation, the request containing a reference appropriate to the base file system,

identifying a plurality of enabled layers, the enabled layers having prioritization levels associated therewith, including an application association prioritization and an ordinary prioritization,

if the request is a request to retrieve an application association for a file type, determining the application association prioritization for searching the enabled layers and the base file system,

if the request is a request other than to retrieve the application association for the file type, determining the ordinary prioritization for searching the enabled layers and the base file system,

performing a search for an object corresponding to the reference, the search being performed in accordance with an order determined by the application association prioritization and the ordinary prioritization,

if, in performing the ordered search, the object is found corresponding to the reference in one of the enabled layers, returning a virtual file handle or a virtual registry key value contained in the one of the enabled layers, and

if, in performing the ordered search, the object is found corresponding to the reference in the base file system, returning a base file handle or a base registry key value contained in the base file system.

2. A layered computing system according to claim 1, wherein the request to retrieve an application association for a file type includes a request to read an HKCR value.

3. A layered computing system according to claim 1, wherein said instructions are executable by the processor to further perform functions of operating a layer manager application that commands enablement, disablement and importation of layers.

4. A layered computing system according to claim 3, wherein the layer manager application accepts commands from a network connection.

5. A layered computing system according to claim 3, wherein said instructions are executable by the processor to further perform functions of reporting the enabled layers installed to the system to a network requester.

6. A layered computing system according to claim 1, wherein said instructions are executable by the processor to further perform functions of operating a layer manager application that receives layers from a network host, and commands enablement, disablement and importation of layers.

7. A set of computer readable media containing computer instructions for accessing files and registry settings in a base file system, the set of computer readable media comprising at least one medium upon which are stored computer instructions executable by a computing system to perform functions of:

receiving from an application a request to perform a file or registry operation, the request containing a reference appropriate to the base file system,

identifying a plurality of enabled layers, the enabled layers having prioritization levels associated therewith, including an application association prioritization and an ordinary prioritization,

if the request is a request to retrieve an application association for a file type, determining the application association prioritization for searching the enabled layers and the base file system,

if the request is a request other than to retrieve the application association for the file type, determining the ordinary prioritization for searching the enabled layers and the base file system,

performing a search for an object corresponding to the reference, the search being performed in accordance with an order determined by the application association prioritization and the ordinary prioritization,

if, in performing the ordered search, the object is found corresponding to the reference in one of the enabled layers, returning a virtual file handle or a virtual registry key value contained in the one of the enabled layers, and

if, in performing the ordered search, the object is found corresponding to the reference in the base file system, returning a base file handle or a base registry key value contained in the base file system.

8. A set of computer readable media according to claim 7, wherein a request to retrieve an application association for a file type includes a request to read an HKCR value.

9. A set of computer readable media according to claim 7, wherein said instructions are executable by the computing system to further perform functions of operating a layer manager application that commands enablement, disablement and importation of layers.

10. A set of computer readable media according to claim 9, wherein the layer manager application accepts commands from a network connection.

11. A set of computer readable media according to claim 9, wherein said instructions are executable by the computing system to further perform functions of reporting the layers installed to the system to a network requester.

12. A set of computer readable media according to claim 7, wherein said instructions are executable by the computing system to further perform functions of operating a layer manager application that receives layers from a network host, and commands enablement, disablement and importation of layers.

13. A method of accessing files and registry settings in a base file system, the method comprising:

receiving from an application a request to perform a file or registry operation, the request containing a reference appropriate to the base file system,

identifying a plurality of enabled layers, the enabled layers having prioritization levels associated therewith, including an application association prioritization and an ordinary prioritization,

if the request is a request to retrieve an application association for a file type, determining the application association prioritization for searching the enabled layers and the base file system,

if the request is a request other than to retrieve the application association for the file type, determining the ordinary prioritization for searching the enabled layers and the base file system,

performing a search for an object corresponding to the reference, the search being performed in accordance with an order determined by the application association prioritization and the ordinary prioritization,

if, in performing the ordered search, the object is found corresponding to the reference in one of the enabled layers, returning a virtual file handle or a virtual registry key value contained in the one of the enabled layers, and

if, in performing the ordered search, the object is found corresponding to the reference in the base file system, returning a base file handle or a base registry key value contained in the base file system.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the request to retrieve an application association for a file type includes a request to read an HKCR value.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising operating a layer manager application that commands enablement, disablement and importation of layers, and wherein the layer manager application accepts commands from a network connection.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising reporting the enabled layers installed to the system to a network requester.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising operating a layer manager application that receives layers from a network host, and commands enablement, disablement and importation of layers.