Disk driver cluster management of time shift buffer with file allocation table structure
First Claim
1. A computer readable storage medium comprising a device driver comprising:
- logic configured to allocate clusters on a file allocation table for a buffer file for buffer space on a disk and to cause media content instances to be written to the buffer space;
the file allocation table comprising;
a first data structure comprising file list entries for files, wherein the file list entries include the clusters allocated for each of the files; and
a second data structure comprising cluster list entries for the clusters, wherein the cluster list entries identify the clusters and a quantity of the files that simultaneously share each one of the clusters;
logic configured to limit the buffer file to a substantially constant buffer file size, such that when the buffer file approaches a full status, a cluster storing the oldest media content is first deallocated from the buffer file and a new cluster is correspondingly allocated to the buffer file; and
logic configured to maintain the buffer space as substantially constant in size by autonomously and automatically removing buffer space clusters designated for a permanent recording and replacing the removed buffer space clusters with replacement clusters without intervention or further instruction from the device driver.
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Abstract
A file allocation system for a hard disk drive includes a memory with driver logic and a processor configured with the driver logic to receive a request to allocate hard disk space of a defined size for a buffer file. In some embodiments, the processor is configured with the driver logic to allocate clusters for the buffer file from a plurality of clusters on the hard disk, wherein the clusters for the buffer file store media content instances. In some embodiments, the processor is configured with the driver logic to designate a portion of the clusters of the buffer file for at least one non-buffer file such that the non-buffer file is permitted to share the portion of the clusters of the buffer file with the buffer file.
36 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A computer readable storage medium comprising a device driver comprising:
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logic configured to allocate clusters on a file allocation table for a buffer file for buffer space on a disk and to cause media content instances to be written to the buffer space; the file allocation table comprising; a first data structure comprising file list entries for files, wherein the file list entries include the clusters allocated for each of the files; and a second data structure comprising cluster list entries for the clusters, wherein the cluster list entries identify the clusters and a quantity of the files that simultaneously share each one of the clusters; logic configured to limit the buffer file to a substantially constant buffer file size, such that when the buffer file approaches a full status, a cluster storing the oldest media content is first deallocated from the buffer file and a new cluster is correspondingly allocated to the buffer file; and logic configured to maintain the buffer space as substantially constant in size by autonomously and automatically removing buffer space clusters designated for a permanent recording and replacing the removed buffer space clusters with replacement clusters without intervention or further instruction from the device driver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification