Database-managed file system

• US 20050091287A1
• Filed: 11/01/2004
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eric Sedlar
• Original Assignee: Eric Sedlar
• Inventors: Sedlar, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,502,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/188 Virtual file systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

Techniques are provided for performing file operations. According to one technique, a file system interface is exposed to applications. The file system interface includes routines for saving and retrieving files. Calls to perform a plurality of file operations are received through the file system interface. The plurality of file operations are performed as a single transaction by performing the steps of: if all file operations of the plurality of file operations are completed without a failure, then making permanent all changes made by the plurality of file operations; and if any file operations of the plurality of file operations fail, then undoing all changes made by all of the plurality of file operations.

Claims

1. A method for accessing a plurality of items that belong to a hierarchy, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving, at a database server, a command that specifies a path through said hierarchy to a particular item of the plurality of items;

resolving the path within the database server; and

based on resolution of the path, the database server accessing data for the item through one or more relational structures managed by the database server.

8. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 1.

2. A method for accessing data stored in a database, the method comprising the steps of:

an application making one or more calls to an operating system to access a file;

wherein said operating system includes routines which implement an operating system file system;

wherein said one or more calls are made to said routines which implement said operating system file system; and

in response to said one or more calls, retrieving the data through one or more relational structures of the database.

9. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 2.

3. A method for performing file operations, the method including the steps of:

exposing a file system interface to applications, said file system interface including routines for saving and retrieving files;

receiving through said file system interface calls to perform a plurality of file operations; and

accessing one or more files through relational structures maintained by a database server to perform said plurality of file operations.

10. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 3.

4. A method for managing files in a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing an association between a type of file system operation, a file, and an action;

wherein the step of establishing an association includes storing a rule that indicates said type of file system operation and said action;

detecting when said type of file system operation is requested to be performed on said file; and

in response to detecting that said type of file system operation is requested to be performed on said file, performing said action.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

the rule indicates the action by indicating an interested entity that is to receive a message when the type of file system operation is performed on the file; and

performing said action includes sending a message to said interested entity.

11. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 4.

12. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 5.

6. A method for implementing a file system for storing electronic files, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a first file class that includes a first set of methods;

storing, within relational structures of a database, a first set of metadata for the first file class;

receiving data that identifies a second file class that includes a second set of methods;

storing, within relational structures of said database, a second set of metadata for the second file class;

in response to a request to perform an operation on a file accessible through relational structure of said database, the file system performing the steps of;

identifying the class associated with the file;

if the file is associated with the first class, then inspecting the first set of metadata to determine that a first routine is associated with said first class, and invoking the first routine to perform said operation; and

if the file is associated with the second class, then inspecting the second set of metadata to determine that a second routine is associated with said second class, and invoking the second routine to perform said operation.

13. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 6.

7. A method for implementing a file system for storing electronic files, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a first file class that includes a first set of attributes and a first set of methods;

storing, within relational structures of a database, a first set of metadata for the first file class;

receiving data that identifies a second file class that includes a second set of attributes and a second set of methods, wherein said second file class was not registered with the file system prior to receiving the data that identifies that second file class;

storing, within relational structures of said database, a second set of metadata for the second file class;

the file system storing, within relational structures of the database, attribute values for said first set of attributes for files of said first file class upon determining from the first set of metadata that the first set of attributes is associated with the first file class, and attribute values for said second set of attributes for files of said second file class upon determining from the second set of metadata that the second set of attributes is associated with the second file class, wherein said first set of attributes is not identical to said second set of attributes.

14. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method recited in claim 7.