Hierarchical structured abstract file system
First Claim
1. A method in a data processing system of searching electronic files on a recordable storage medium of the data processing system;
- the method comprising;
providing electronic files into more than one hierarchical file structure in the data processing system, wherein each of the electronic files is identified by a filename in a directory or subdirectory of a file directory tree structure forming a first hierarchical file structure, and each of the electronic files is automatically organized by a data processor into a second hierarchical file structure according to a user-defined metalabel that is assigned to the each of the electronic files in addition to the filename, wherein the second hierarchical file structure comprises a Patricia trie and organizing the electronic files into the second hierarchical file structure comprises;
locating or creating a node in the trie that is identified with each metalabel of the electronic files;
associating the filename of each of the electronic files to a corresponding metalabel in the trie;
linking the metalabel of a first electronic file to a matching metalabel assigned to a second electronic file; and
linking a second metalabel of the first electronic file to a matching second metalabel, wherein the matching second metalabel is assigned to at least one of the second electronic file or a third electronic file;
receiving a query from a user;
searching the second hierarchical file structure as a function of the query; and
returning to the user an electronic file having a metalabel matching the query.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method in a data processing system of searching a plurality of electronic files identified by filenames in a first hierarchical file structure that is on a recordable medium of the data processing system. A user-defined metalabel is assigned to each of the electronic files. The electronic files are organized as a function of the metalabels into a second hierarchical file structure existing simultaneously with the first hierarchical file structure on the recordable medium of the data processing system. A search query is received from a user and the metalabels of the second hierarchical file structure are searched as a function of the query. Each electronic file having a metalabel matching the query is returned to the user as a search result.
46 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method in a data processing system of searching electronic files on a recordable storage medium of the data processing system;
- the method comprising;
providing electronic files into more than one hierarchical file structure in the data processing system, wherein each of the electronic files is identified by a filename in a directory or subdirectory of a file directory tree structure forming a first hierarchical file structure, and each of the electronic files is automatically organized by a data processor into a second hierarchical file structure according to a user-defined metalabel that is assigned to the each of the electronic files in addition to the filename, wherein the second hierarchical file structure comprises a Patricia trie and organizing the electronic files into the second hierarchical file structure comprises; locating or creating a node in the trie that is identified with each metalabel of the electronic files; associating the filename of each of the electronic files to a corresponding metalabel in the trie; linking the metalabel of a first electronic file to a matching metalabel assigned to a second electronic file; and linking a second metalabel of the first electronic file to a matching second metalabel, wherein the matching second metalabel is assigned to at least one of the second electronic file or a third electronic file; receiving a query from a user; searching the second hierarchical file structure as a function of the query; and returning to the user an electronic file having a metalabel matching the query. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- the method comprising;
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10. A method in a data processing system of searching a plurality of electronic files in a first hierarchical file structure on a recordable storage medium of the data processing system, each of the electronic files including a filename, the method comprising:
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assigning a user-defined metalabel to each of the electronic files; organizing the electronic files as a function of the metalabels into a second hierarchical file structure existing simultaneously with the first hierarchical file structure on the recordable storage medium of the data processing system, each of the electronic files organized in both the first hierarchical file structure and the second hierarchical file structure, wherein the second hierarchical file structure comprises a Patricia trie including a plurality of nodes, each node for one of metalabels, and organizing the electronic files into the second hierarchical file structure comprises; associating with each of the nodes the filename of each of the electronic files having a metalabel matching the node; in king the metalabel of each of the electronic files to a matching metalabel assigned to one or more other of the electronic files; and
for each of the electronic files having a second metalabel,linking the second metalabel to a matching second metalabel assigned to a second one or more other of the electronic files; receiving a query from a user; searching the metalabels of the second hierarchical file structure as a function of the query; and returning to the user as a search result each of the electronic files having a metalabel matching the query. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with instructions for organizing a plurality of electronic files of a data processing system, the encoded instructions comprising:
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a first program code establishing a first hierarchical file structure including the plurality of electronic files, each of the plurality of electronic files identified by a filename in the first hierarchical file structure; and a second program code establishing a second hierarchical file structure including the plurality of electronic files, each of the plurality of electronic files identified by a user-defined metalabel in the second hierarchical file structure, each of the electronic files or organized in both the first hierarchical file structure and the second hierarchical file structure comprises a Patricia trie; the second program code including code for assigning the user-defined metalabel to each of the electronic files, and automatically organizing the electronic files as a function of the metalabels into the second hierarchical file structure by;
locating or creating a node in the trie that is identified with each metalabel of the electronic files;
associating the filename of each of the electronic files to a corresponding metalabel in the trie;
linking the metalabel of a first electronic file to a matching metalabel assigned to a second electronic file; and
linking a second user-defined metalabel to a matching second metalabel, wherein the matching second metalabel is assigned to at least the second electronic file or a third electronic file; andthe first and second hierarchical file structures existing simultaneously for the plurality of electronic files. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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Specification