Patent US5758352A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5758352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Common name space for long and short filenames
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1996-09-05
•
Granted: 1998-05-26
•
Expires: 2016-09-05
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Aaron R. Reynolds
- 👤 Dennis R. Adler
- 👤 Ralph A. Lipe
- 👤 Ray D. Pedrizetti
- 👤 Jeffrey T. Parsons
- 👤 Rasipuram V. Arun
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/16; G06F16/164; G06F16/166; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99936
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
In a computer system having a storage, a directory service for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a method, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (a) creating a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file; (b) creating a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename having a fixed number of characters and a signature that identifies that the second directory entry holds a first portion of the long filename; (c) storing the first directory entry and the second directory entry on the storage among the directory entries used by the directory service; (d) accessing the second directory entry by the directory service to access the file; and (e) creating and storing in the storage a sequence of at least one additional directory entry for holding a next sequential portion of the long filename.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
In a computer system having a storage, a directory service for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a method, comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (a) creating a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file; (b) creating a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename having a fixed number of characters and a signature that identifies that the second directory entry holds a first portion of the long filename; (c) storing the first directory entry and the second directory entry on the storage among the directory entries used by the directory service; (d) accessing the second directory entry by the directory service to access the file; and (e) creating and storing in the storage a sequence of at least one additional directory entry for holding a next sequential portion of the long filename.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the long filename contains more characters than the short filename.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein each additional directory entry may hold only a fixed number of characters of the long filename and how many additional directory entries are created is dictated by how many additional directory entries are required to store characters of the long filename which are not already stored in the second directory entry.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of creating at least one additional directory entry for the long filename further comprises the step of creating a plurality of additional directory entries.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of creating at least one additional directory entry for the long filename further comprises the step of providing a signature in each additional directory entry that identifies which portion of the long filename the additional directory entry holds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step of creating at least one additional directory entry for the long filename further comprises the step of providing a checksum of the first filename in each additional directory entry.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a data processing system having a processor running an operating system and a memory means having memory locations wherein the operating system is stored in the memory means, a method, comprising the steps of: (a) storing in a first of the memory locations of the memory means a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file, said short filename including at most a maximum number of characters that is permissible by an application program; (b) storing in a second of the memory locations of the memory means that is adjacent to the first of the memory locations a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least a first portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename including a greater number of characters than the maximum number of characters that is permissible by the application program, and (c) accessing one of the directory entries to locate the file.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
167 words
In a data processing system having a processor running an operating system and a memory means having memory locations wherein the operating system is stored in the memory means, a method, comprising the steps of: (a) storing in a first of the memory locations of the memory means a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file, said short filename including at most a maximum number of characters that is permissible by an application program; (b) storing in a second of the memory locations of the memory means that is adjacent to the first of the memory locations a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least a first portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename including a greater number of characters than the maximum number of characters that is permissible by the application program, and (c) accessing one of the directory entries to locate the file.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method as recited in claim 7 wherein the step of storing the second directory further comprises the step of storing a checksum of the short filename in the second directory entry.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 7, further comprising the step of storing at least one additional directory entry holding a next portion of the long filename in the memory means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of storing at least one additional directory entry further comprises the step of storing a checksum of the short filename in the additional directory entry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as recited in claim 9 wherein the step of storing at least one additional directory entry further comprises the step of storing a signature that uniquely identifies which portion of the long filename is stored in the additional directory entry.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a computer system having a storage, a directory service for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a comnputer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising computer-implementented steps of: (a) creating a first directry entry for a file wherein the first directory holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file; (b) creating a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename having a fixed number of characters; (c) storing the first directory entry and the second directory entry on the storag among the directory entries used by the directory service; and (d) accessing the second directory entry by the directory service to access the file.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
In a computer system having a storage, a directory service for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a comnputer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising computer-implementented steps of: (a) creating a first directry entry for a file wherein the first directory holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file; (b) creating a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename having a fixed number of characters; (c) storing the first directory entry and the second directory entry on the storag among the directory entries used by the directory service; and (d) accessing the second directory entry by the directory service to access the file.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 12 wherein the long filename contains more characters than the short filename.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 12 also holding computer-executable instructions for creating and storing in the storage a sequence of at least one additional directory entry for holding a next sequential portion of the long filename.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein each additional directory entry may hold only a fixed number of characters of the long filename and how many additional directory entries are created is dictated by how many additional directory entries are required to store characters of the long filename which are not already stored in the second directory entry.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the step of creating at least one additional directory entry for the long filename further comprises the step of creating a plurality of additional directory entries.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer-readable medium of clain 14 wherein the step of creating the second directory entry further comprises the step of providing a signature in the second directory entry that identifies that the second directory entry holds the first portion of the long file name.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
44 words
The computer-readable medium of clain 14 wherein the step of creating the second directory entry further comprises the step of providing a signature in the second directory entry that identifies that the second directory entry holds the first portion of the long file name.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
47 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 17 wherein the step of creating at least one additional directory entry for the long filename further comprises the step of providing a signature in each additional directory entry that identifies which portion of the long filename the additional directory entry holds.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein the step of creating at least one additional directory entry for the long filename further comprises the step of providing a checksum of the first filename in each additional directory entry.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a data processing system having a processor running an operating system and a memory means with memory locations, wherein said memory means stores the operating system, a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising the steps of: (a) storing in a first of the memory locations of the memory means a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file, said short filename including at most a maximum number of characters that is permissible by an application program; (b) storing in a second of the memory locations of the memory means that is adjacent to the first of the memory locations a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least a first portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename including a greater number of characters than the maximum number of characters that is permissible by the application program; and (c) accessing one of the directory entries to locate the file.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
173 words
In a data processing system having a processor running an operating system and a memory means with memory locations, wherein said memory means stores the operating system, a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising the steps of: (a) storing in a first of the memory locations of the memory means a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file, said short filename including at most a maximum number of characters that is permissible by an application program; (b) storing in a second of the memory locations of the memory means that is adjacent to the first of the memory locations a second directory entry for the file wherein the second directory entry holds at least a first portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename including a greater number of characters than the maximum number of characters that is permissible by the application program; and (c) accessing one of the directory entries to locate the file.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 20 wherein a checksum of the short filename is stored in the second directory entry.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The computer-readable medium of claim 20 wherein at least one additional directory entry is stored to hold a next portion of the long filename in the memory means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-readable medium of clain 22 wherein a signature is stored in the additional directory entry that uniquely identifies which portion of the long filename is stored in the additional directory entry.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
The computer-readable medium of clain 22 wherein a signature is stored in the additional directory entry that uniquely identifies which portion of the long filename is stored in the additional directory entry.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a computer system having a directory service for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (a) creating a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file, (b) creating a second directory entry for a file wherein the second directory entry is configured to appear as if it holds a short filename to a program that uses only short filenames and wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename having more characters then the short filename; and (c) accessing one of the first directory entries and the second directory entry by the directory service in order to access the file.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
143 words
In a computer system having a directory service for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (a) creating a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file, (b) creating a second directory entry for a file wherein the second directory entry is configured to appear as if it holds a short filename to a program that uses only short filenames and wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename having more characters then the short filename; and (c) accessing one of the first directory entries and the second directory entry by the directory service in order to access the file.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the program that uses only short filenames is an operating system.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the program that uses only short filenames is an application program.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of clain 24 wherein the storage includes storage locations and wherein the first directory entry and the second directory entry are stored in adjacent storage locations.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
28 words
The method of clain 24 wherein the storage includes storage locations and wherein the first directory entry and the second directory entry are stored in adjacent storage locations.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a computer system having a directory device for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for executing a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (a) creating a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file; (b) creating a second directory entry for a file wherein the second directory entry is configured to appear as if it holds a short filename to a program that uses only short filenames and wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename having more characters then the short filename; and (c) accessing one of the first directory entries and the second directory entry by the directory service in order to access the file.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
151 words
In a computer system having a directory device for accessing directory entries and a file system that uses the directory entries to access files, a computer-readable medium holding computer-executable instructions for executing a method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: (a) creating a first directory entry for a file wherein the first directory entry holds a short filename for the file and the location of the file; (b) creating a second directory entry for a file wherein the second directory entry is configured to appear as if it holds a short filename to a program that uses only short filenames and wherein the second directory entry holds at least one portion of a long filename for the file, said long filename having more characters then the short filename; and (c) accessing one of the first directory entries and the second directory entry by the directory service in order to access the file.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4780821A
Cited
US4987531A
Cited
US5307494A
Cited
JPS6441039A
Cited
JPH01315843A
Cited
JPH02148341A
Cited
US5313646A
Cited
US5363487A
Cited
US5371885A
Cited
US5392427A
Cited
US5388257A
Cited
US5412808A
Cited
US5359725A
Cited
US5434974A
Cited
US5535375A
Cited
US5421001A
Cited
JPH0619763A
Cited
US5437029A
Cited
US5483652A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-05-25 | 2001-11-24 | 2002-05-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-05-25 | 2005-11-24 | 2006-05-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-05-25 | 2009-11-24 | 2010-05-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |