Common name space for long and short filenames

Patent 5579517 Issued on November 26, 1996. Estimated Expiration Date:

April 24, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

File system management method and file management system
Patent #: 4987531
Issued on: 01/22/1991
Inventor: Nishikado, ;, , , --> Nishikado, et al.

File name length augmentation method
Patent #: 5307494
Issued on: 04/26/1994
Inventor: Yasumatsu, et al.

Method and apparatus for translucent file system
Patent #: 5313646
Issued on: 05/17/1994
Inventor: Hendricks, et al.

Method of creating CD-ROM image of files of different format with proper directories to be read by respective operating systems
Patent #: 5359725
Issued on: 10/25/1994
Inventor: Garcia, et al.

High performance file system
Patent #: 5371885
Issued on: 12/06/1994
Inventor: Letwin

Method and apparatus for operating a computer based file system
Patent #: 5388257
Issued on: 02/07/1995
Inventor: Bauer

System for parsing extended file names in an operating system
Patent #: 5412808
Issued on: 05/02/1995
Inventor: Bauer

Computer method and apparatus for a table driven file interface Patent #: 5421001
Issued on: 05/30/1995
Inventor: Methe

Inventors

Assignee

Microsoft Corporation

Application

No. 427004 filed on 04/24/1995

US Classes:

707/200FILE OR DATABASE MAINTENANCE

Examiners

Primary: Black, Thomas G.
Assistant: Pham, C.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Seed and Berry

International Class

G06F 017/30

Abstract

An operating system provides a common name space for both long filenames and short filenames. In this common namespace, a long filename and a short filename are provided for each file. Each file has a short filename directory entry and may have at least one long filename directory entry associated with it. The number of long filename directory entries that are associated with a file depends on the number of characters in the long filename of the file. The long filename directory entries are configured to minimize compatibility problems with existing installed program bases.

Other References

Ray Duncan, "Using long filenames and extended attributes" parts 1 & 2, PC Magazine vol. 9 nos 8 & 9. pp. 317 & 305, Apr. 24 & May 15, 1990
Ray Duncan, "Design Goals and Implementation of the new High Performance File System" Microsoft Systems Journal, vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 1-13, Sep. 1989