US5557790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Facility for the generic storage and management of multimedia objects
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1994-06-21
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Granted: 1996-09-17
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Expires: 2014-06-21
Abstract
Abstract A computer server for storing and managing a digitized generic form of multiple heterogeneously formatted data objects (e.g. multi-media files). The system uniquely identifies both the generic form of the data and a description relating the stored generic form to the original formatted data. Through the management of the unique identifiers a requester need only specify an identifier to quickly access a data object regardless of platform incongruencies, particular stored format, location or addressing structure (i.e. particular file path). Once identified and located the generic data object form is transformed into a format usable by the requestor.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald E. Bingham
- 👤 Michael J. Dockter
- 👤 Joel F. Farber
- 👤 Kevin D. Seppi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 11:19
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/40; G06F16/20; G06F16/25; G06F16/258; G06F16/48; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A computer server for the efficient storage and management of a plurality of heterogeneous formatted data objects comprising: receiving means for receiving at least a first formatted data object; a first transforming means for transforming said received data object into a generic format; storage means for storing said generic format data object into computer storage; globally unique identifier means for uniquely identifying said transformed data object; descriptor means for storing a description relating said generic format with said originally received data object; retrieving means for retrieving said generic format of said data object based on a user request of said first formatted data object based on said unique identifier, and a second transforming means to transform said retrieved generic formatted data object into said requested first format.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A computer server for the efficient storage and management of a plurality of heterogeneous formatted data objects comprising: receiving means for receiving at least a first formatted data object; a first transforming means for transforming said received data object into a generic format; storage means for storing said generic format data object into computer storage; globally unique identifier means for uniquely identifying said transformed data object; descriptor means for storing a description relating said generic format with said originally received data object; retrieving means for retrieving said generic format of said data object based on a user request of said first formatted data object based on said unique identifier, and a second transforming means to transform said retrieved generic formatted data object into said requested first format.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer server as per claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes at least a request for allocation of server storage space.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer server as per claim 1, wherein said first transforming means transforms said at least first formatted data object for optimization of storage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer server as per claim 3, wherein said optimization is based on physical storage size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer server as per claim 3, wherein said optimization is based on normalization of said first formatted data object.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer server as per claim 3, wherein said optimization is based on minimization of total cost.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer server as per claim 3, wherein said optimization is based on a particular target platform
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer server as per claim 3, wherein said optimization is based on transmission overhead.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer server as per claim 1, wherein said computer storage may be local storage or located remote from said computer server.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer server as per claim 1, wherein said computer storage may be located across computer networks.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer server as per claim 1, wherein said unique identifier means further uniquely identifies said description relating said generic format with said originally received data object.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A computer server as per claim 11, wherein said description includes an original name of said first data object.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer server as per claim 1, wherein said computer server further includes an unintroduce means for removing stored generic data objects from said computer server.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer server as per claim 1, wherein said computer server further comprises a duplicate detection and elimination means for preventing storage of duplicate generic data objects.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer server for the efficient storage and management of a plurality of heterogeneous formatted data objects across computer networks comprising: storage access and allocation means for accessing and receiving an allocation of storage space for at least a first formatted data object; a first transforming means for transforming said received formatted data object into a generic format; storage means for storing said generic format data object into computer storage; a first unique identifier means for uniquely identifying said generic format data object; attribute means for storing a description relating said generic format with said originally received data object; a second unique identifier means for uniquely identifying said description; retrieving means for retrieving said generic format of said data object based on a user request of a selected format of said data object using corresponding first and second unique identifiers, and a second transforming means to transform said retrieved generic formatted data object into said selected format.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
157 words
A computer server for the efficient storage and management of a plurality of heterogeneous formatted data objects across computer networks comprising: storage access and allocation means for accessing and receiving an allocation of storage space for at least a first formatted data object; a first transforming means for transforming said received formatted data object into a generic format; storage means for storing said generic format data object into computer storage; a first unique identifier means for uniquely identifying said generic format data object; attribute means for storing a description relating said generic format with said originally received data object; a second unique identifier means for uniquely identifying said description; retrieving means for retrieving said generic format of said data object based on a user request of a selected format of said data object using corresponding first and second unique identifiers, and a second transforming means to transform said retrieved generic formatted data object into said selected format.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer server as per claim 15, wherein said first transforming means transforms said at least first formatted data object for optimization of storage.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer server as per claim 16, wherein said optimization is based on physical storage size.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer server as per claim 16, wherein said optimization is based on a particular target platform.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer server as per claim 16, wherein said optimization is based on transmission overhead.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer server as per claim 16, wherein said optimization is based on normalization of said at least first formatted data object.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A computer server as per claim 16, wherein said optimization is based on minimization of total cost.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
A computer server as per claim 15, wherein said description includes an original name of said at least first data object.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer server as per claim 15, wherein said computer server further includes an unintroduce means for removing stored generic data objects from said computer server.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
A computer server as per claim 15, wherein said computer server further comprises a duplicate detection and elimination means for preventing storage of duplicate generic data objects.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-09-17 | 2000-03-18 | 2000-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-17 | 2004-03-18 | 2004-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-17 | 2008-03-18 | 2008-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |