Multi-user system and methods providing improved file management by reading

Claim 1

In a computer system having a memory and a storage device, an improved method for storing and retrieving a plurality of information files, the method comprising: (a) storing the plurality of information files as a single disk file, the disk file including at least one storage block for each of the information files, said at least one storage block having a uniform size, and each said information file having a variable file size, and storing with the single disk file a directory of said information files, said directory including a plurality of entries each of which stores a location of an information file within the single disk file: (b) retrieving a desired information file from the storage device by: (i) locating a storage block having the desired information file by: searching the directory for an entry storing said location of the desired information file, and if the entry is found, retrieving from the directory entry said location for the desired information file, and (ii) reading from the storage block an amount of data equal to the file size of the information file plus an additional amount: (c) processing said retrieved information file in the memory, said processing including at least one of adding or deleting data entries from the information file: (d) storing the processed information file on the storage device: (e) storing in the memory a new size for the processed information file: (f) if the new size exceeds the at least one storage block size, (i) invalidating the at least one storage block, (ii) appending to the single disk file a new block having a size larger than that of the invalidated storage block, and (iii) storing the information file in the new block: and (g) subsequently reading the desired information file by: seeking to said location of the desired information file, and in a single input/output operation, reading an amount of data equal to the file size plus an additional amount.