File system for storing multiple files as a single compressed file

• US 7,653,632 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2002
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Alan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam; Hosain T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Saeed; Usmaan
• Application Number:
  US10/261,356
• Publication Number:
  US 20040064462A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,674 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/200, 707/204, 707/205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers

Abstract

A file archive system for storing multiple files and directories as a single file. The file archive system could be used on a hand-held computer or other computing device. The file archive system in a preferred embodiment has an operating system with a loadable file system. In another embodiment, the file archive system includes a file archive structure for storing multiple files as a single file.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device with a file archive system for storing multiple files as a single file comprising comprising:

a display screen;

an input device for operating the computing device and entering user responses;

a processor for executing programming that provides the file archive system further comprising;

a file manager that communicates with an archive file, having a directory navigation system and a read/write file system, and wherein the archive file comprises;

a fixed header in the file that does not change when files are added to the archive, and that contains a first pointer to a first file information block group,

the first information block group containing a link block having a second pointer to a second information block group, and

a first file information block in the first information block group containing a third pointer which points to a first data file, and

a second file information block in the second information block group containing a fourth pointer, or, alternatively, an end of file code.

2. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the files in the archive file appear to an application software program to be files in a disk file directory.

3. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein at least one information block group further contains a directory block which contains directory information.

4. The handheld computing device of claim 1, further comprising an operating system with a loadable file system.

5. The handheld computing device of claim 3, wherein a file information block and a directory information block have a common format for information in the first byte thereof.

6. The handheld computing device of claim 5, wherein the common format for information in the first byte of the blocks includes a bit identifying a block type.