Patent · US Expired

System and method for creating multiple files from a single source file

US6594674B1 · kind B1 · utility

14Cited by
7References
40Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 27, 2000
Grant dateJul 15, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 12, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99948
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A mechanism is provided that allows an application program to write, as a single file, a large block of data comprising multiple portions that could otherwise be written as several smaller files, then to access, as individual files, each of the portions within the large block of data, and to be able to create individual files efficiently out of each of these subfiles. The mechanism may be partially embodied in a file system that includes an information store defining each file on a volume. The application program writes, via the file system, a single file to the volume as (preferably) a contiguous block of data. The single file includes two or more separable streams of data capable of being stored as individual files (subfiles). Once the single file is written to the volume, multiple entries are made to the information store. Each entry defines and points to a subfile within the single file. The subfiles may be positioned within the single file such that the beginning of each subfile lies on the beginning of an allocation unit. In this manner, the single file may be written to the volume in one efficient operation, yet each subfile is individually accessible via its respective entr…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.