EP0389399A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Directory structure for worm optical media
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1990-02-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-02-20
Abstract
Abstract A directory structure for WORM optical media which supports a multi-level tree structure containing several paths is disclosed. When a user defines the first path on the WORM volume, a first file directory group (140) is created for that path. A path directory entry pointing to this file directory group is written to the path directory group (130). Files having this path name are initially written into the first data file area (150) next to this file directory group. The first data file area grows as data is written into it. When a second path is defined, the first data file area is closed and a second file directory group (160) is created on the WORM volume next to the first data file area, thereby wasting little if any space. The path directory group is updated with a new path directory entry that points to this new file directory group. Files having this second path name are written into a growing second data area. If the user now wants a file having the first path name to be written to the disk, a file directory entry is placed in the first file directory group, but the file itself is written into the growing second data file area. In this manner, files are associated with directory entries by a common path name, not necessarily physical location on the disk, although files tend to be relatively close to their associated directory entry.
Inventors
- 👤 Harrison L. Freeman
- 👤 Thomas Marshall Hoag
- 👤 Richard Glen Mustain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 13:17
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/10; G06F16/90; G06F16/901; G06F16/9017; G06F16/902
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
A directory structure for a write once read mostly (WORM) volume, comprising: at least one data file area having a plurality of data files, said plurality of data files being referenced by a plurality of path names; a first file directory group having a first plurality of file directory entries containing location information about a first plurality of data files that have a first path name; and a second file directory group having a second plurality of file directory entries, said entries containing location information about a plurality of data files that have a second path name.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
A directory structure for a write once read mostly (WORM) volume, comprising: at least one data file area having a plurality of data files, said plurality of data files being referenced by a plurality of path names; a first file directory group having a first plurality of file directory entries containing location information about a first plurality of data files that have a first path name; and a second file directory group having a second plurality of file directory entries, said entries containing location information about a plurality of data files that have a second path name.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The directory structure of claim 1, further comprising: a first path directory group having a first path directory entry and a second path directory entry, said first path directory entry containing location information of said first directory file group and said second path directory entry containing location information of said second file directory group.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The directory structure of claim 2, further comprising: a volume label group for storing an original volume name and a plurality of updated volume names for said WORM volume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
The directory structure of claim 3, further comprising: a third file directory group having a third plurality of file directory entries containing location information about a second plurality of data files that have a first path name, said third file directory group being chained to said first file directory group.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
The directory structure of any one of claims 1-4, wherein a first and a second file directory blocks contain said first and second pluralities of file directory entries containing location information about a first and a second pluralities of data files that have a first and a second path name, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The directory structure of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of file directory blocks further comprises: a file directory header, and a path directory header.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer system, comprising: a write once read mostly (WORM) volume, further comprising: a plurality of data file areas having a plurality of data files, said plurality of data files being referenced by a plurality of path names; a first file directory group comprising a first plurality of file directory blocks having a first plurality of file directory entries containing location information about a first plurality of data files that have a first path name; a second file directory group comprising a second plurality of file directory blocks having a second plurality of file directory entries containing location information about a plurality of data files that have a second path name; and look-aside buffer means for copying said first file directory group into random access memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
126 words
A computer system, comprising: a write once read mostly (WORM) volume, further comprising: a plurality of data file areas having a plurality of data files, said plurality of data files being referenced by a plurality of path names; a first file directory group comprising a first plurality of file directory blocks having a first plurality of file directory entries containing location information about a first plurality of data files that have a first path name; a second file directory group comprising a second plurality of file directory blocks having a second plurality of file directory entries containing location information about a plurality of data files that have a second path name; and look-aside buffer means for copying said first file directory group into random access memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The computer system of claim 7, further comprising: buffer means for buffering said first plurality of file directory entries until a file directory block is created and is written to said first file directory group on said WORM volume.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The computer system of claim 8, wherein said buffer means further comprises: a plurality of path volume reference (PVR) records, wherein one of said plurality of PVR records is allocated for each of said plurality of path names.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer system of claim 9, further comprising: random access buffer means for buffering one of said PVR records in random access memory.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of writing a first plurality of data files having a first path name and a second plurality of data files having a second path name to an optical disk, comprising the steps of: creating a first file directory group on said optical disk for said first path name; creating a first data file area on said optical disk; writing said first plurality of data files into said first data file area; writing a file directory entry for each of said first plurality of data files containing location information about each of said first plurality of data files into said first file directory group; creating a second file directory group on said optical disk for said second path name; creating a second data file area on said optical disk; writing said second plurality of data files into said second data file area; and writing a file directory entry for each of said second plurality of data files containing location information about each of said second plurality of data files into said second file directory group.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
176 words
A method of writing a first plurality of data files having a first path name and a second plurality of data files having a second path name to an optical disk, comprising the steps of: creating a first file directory group on said optical disk for said first path name; creating a first data file area on said optical disk; writing said first plurality of data files into said first data file area; writing a file directory entry for each of said first plurality of data files containing location information about each of said first plurality of data files into said first file directory group; creating a second file directory group on said optical disk for said second path name; creating a second data file area on said optical disk; writing said second plurality of data files into said second data file area; and writing a file directory entry for each of said second plurality of data files containing location information about each of said second plurality of data files into said second file directory group.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: creating a path directory group on said optical disk; writing a first path directory entry containing location information about said first file directory group into said path directory group; and writing a second path directory entry containing location information about said second file directory group into said path directory group.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: writing a third data file having said first path to said second data file area; and writing a file directory entry containing location information about said third data file into said first file directory group.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of writing a first plurality of data files having a first path name and a second plurality of data files having a second path name to an optical disk, comprising the steps of: creating a first file directory group on said optical disk for said first path name; creating a first data file area on said optical disk; moving a file directory entry for each of said first plurality of data files containing location information about each of said first plurality of data files into a first file directory block on a first buffered storage area on eraseable high speed media; moving a file directory entry for each of said second plurality of data files containing location information about each of said second plurality of data files into a second file directory block on a second buffered storage area on eraseable high speed media; creating a second file directory group on said optical disk for said second path name; creating a second data file area on said optical disk; writing said first plurality of data files into said first data file area; writing said second plurality of data files into said second data file area; writing said first file directory block from said first buffered storage area to said first file directory group on said optical disk; and writing said second file directory block from said second buffered storage area to said second file directory group on said optical disk.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
242 words
A method of writing a first plurality of data files having a first path name and a second plurality of data files having a second path name to an optical disk, comprising the steps of: creating a first file directory group on said optical disk for said first path name; creating a first data file area on said optical disk; moving a file directory entry for each of said first plurality of data files containing location information about each of said first plurality of data files into a first file directory block on a first buffered storage area on eraseable high speed media; moving a file directory entry for each of said second plurality of data files containing location information about each of said second plurality of data files into a second file directory block on a second buffered storage area on eraseable high speed media; creating a second file directory group on said optical disk for said second path name; creating a second data file area on said optical disk; writing said first plurality of data files into said first data file area; writing said second plurality of data files into said second data file area; writing said first file directory block from said first buffered storage area to said first file directory group on said optical disk; and writing said second file directory block from said second buffered storage area to said second file directory group on said optical disk.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of creating a path directory group on said optical disk; writing a first path directory entry containing location information about said first file directory group into said path directory group; and writing a second path directory entry containing location information about said second file directory group into said path directory group.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of reading a data file having a path name and a file name from an optical disk, comprising the steps of: looking in a look-aside buffered storage area for a file directory group having said path name; searching said file directory group having said path name on said look-aside buffered storage area for a file directory entry having said file name; and accessing said data file located in a data file area based on location information in said file directory entry stored in said look-aside buffered storage.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of reading a data file having a path name and a file name from an optical disk, comprising the steps of: looking in a look-aside buffered storage area for a file directory group having said path name; searching said file directory group having said path name on said look-aside buffered storage area for a file directory entry having said file name; and accessing said data file located in a data file area based on location information in said file directory entry stored in said look-aside buffered storage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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