Virtual file system

• US 20060041527A1
• Filed: 08/03/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Media Sentry Inc.
• Original Assignee: Media Sentry Inc.
• Inventors: Fessler, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US11/196,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20060041527A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/164 File meta data generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/188 Virtual file systems

Abstract

Described is a method for storing a data file and creating a plurality of virtual files, wherein each virtual file is mapped to the data file. Individual metadata is then generated for each virtual file, the metadata corresponding to a shared file, wherein the data file is different from the shared file and at least one of the plurality of virtual files is offered on a network.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing a data file;

creating a plurality of virtual files, wherein each virtual file is mapped to the data file;

generating individual metadata for each virtual file, the metadata corresponding to a shared file, wherein the data file is different from the shared file; and

offering at least one of the plurality of virtual files on a network.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the data file to a user of the network when the user requests one of the plurality of virtual files.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data file is a corrupted version of the shared file.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the network is a peer-to-peer network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the shared file is a media file.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying the metadata for each virtual file when the metadata matches a search criteria.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata includes one of

a title, a file size, a file extension, and a file sharer name.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata is based on network information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the network information is one of a type of information on the network and a quantity of information on the network.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the metadata is generated only after receiving a search request from a user.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the metadata includes one of a title, a file size, a file extension and a file sharer name.

11. A system, comprising:

a first storage area storing a data file;

a second storage area storing a plurality of virtual files, wherein each virtual file is mapped to the data file, each virtual file including metadata corresponding to a shared file, wherein the data file is different from the shared file; and

a file distribution arrangement to transmit the data file when a user selects one of the virtual files for download.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a virtual file selector to select virtual files including metadata matching a received search criteria.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second storage areas are file folders of an operating system.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the data file is a corrupted version of the shared file.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the data file is transmitted via a peer-to-peer network.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the shared file is a media file.

18. A computing arrangement comprising a memory to store a set of instructions and a processor to execute the set of instructions, the set of instructions being operable to:

store a data file;

create a plurality of virtual files, wherein each virtual file is mapped to the data file;

generate individual metadata for each virtual file, the metadata corresponding to a shared file, wherein the data file is different from the shared file; and

offer at least one of the plurality of virtual files on a network.

19. The computing arrangement of claim 18, wherein the metadata includes one of a title, a file size, a file extension and a file sharer name.