Patent · US Expired

Converting information into different formats

US7747594B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
22References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 28, 2004
Grant dateJun 29, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 20, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S707/99954
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A software layer (filter driver) residing between software components or application programs running locally or on a client across a network and a persistent store of an operating system provides on-the-fly conversions of persistent information formats. The filter driver determines which format a program expects, and dynamically converts the information from its storage format to the format expected by the program. Conversion includes both data format conversion, and conversion of access semantics. Loadable conversion modules are provided for converting application specific formats due to the potential large number of such formats which can be encountered. The filter driver may change the format that information is stored in based on access history or other system requirements. The software components or application programs may be ignorant of the true storage format used by the system, and thus the filter driver can be used to give old versions of software access to information stored in newer formats.

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