Patent US5701452A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5701452A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Computer generated structure
Assignee: NCR Voyix Corp
•
Filing: 1995-04-20
•
Granted: 1997-12-23
•
Expires: 2015-04-20
Abstract
Abstract The invention concerns a file structure for a computer file. A computer file normally contains (a) a system header, (b) a header generated by an application program, and (c) information generated by a user. The invention creates information in addition to these three types, and adds it to the file. This added information is used by other programs, to transform the data, prior to presentation to the user.
Inventors
- 👤 David M. Siefert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:25
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, which file is generated by software, the improvement comprising executing steps which include the following information in said file: a) signals encoding information which is additional to i) system header, ii) file header, and iii) user data, and wherein the signal encoding information is located in the file between the system header and a file header.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, which file is generated by software, the improvement comprising executing steps which include the following information in said file: a) signals encoding information which is additional to i) system header, ii) file header, and iii) user data, and wherein the signal encoding information is located in the file between the system header and a file header.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer file carried by a tangible storage medium, comprising: a) user data; b) at least two headers; and c) data useful to a non-essential agent, and the data useful to the non-essential agent being located in the file between the two headers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A computer file carried by a tangible storage medium, comprising: a) user data; b) at least two headers; and c) data useful to a non-essential agent, and the data useful to the non-essential agent being located in the file between the two headers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a computer file contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) multiple fields, for producing signals which are used by agents other than i) those involved in normal file handling, and ii) an application program able to load the file, and b) the multiple fields being located in the file between a field used for normal file handling and a header for the multiple fields.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
68 words
In a computer file contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) multiple fields, for producing signals which are used by agents other than i) those involved in normal file handling, and ii) an application program able to load the file, and b) the multiple fields being located in the file between a field used for normal file handling and a header for the multiple fields.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, said computer file containing a header generated by an application program, the improvement comprising: a) creating, in said computer file, space for information including a second header to be used by an agent other than i) an operating system and ii) the application program, and b) locating the space between the information between the header for the application program and the second header.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, said computer file containing a header generated by an application program, the improvement comprising: a) creating, in said computer file, space for information including a second header to be used by an agent other than i) an operating system and ii) the application program, and b) locating the space between the information between the header for the application program and the second header.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a computer-readable file having file data and being contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) means for indicating at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol information, and locating the indicating means ahead of the file data and between a header for the indicating means and a header for the file data.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
In a computer-readable file having file data and being contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) means for indicating at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol information, and locating the indicating means ahead of the file data and between a header for the indicating means and a header for the file data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of processing a computer file having file data, comprising the following steps: a) maintaining, in association with the file, information indicative of at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file, which program runs on an operating system; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol required by the file; b) locating the information indicative of at least two of i) through vi) between a header for the system and a file header for the file data; and c) reading said information and calling respective programs which process the file in accordance with the information, without human intervention.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of processing a computer file having file data, comprising the following steps: a) maintaining, in association with the file, information indicative of at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file, which program runs on an operating system; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol required by the file; b) locating the information indicative of at least two of i) through vi) between a header for the system and a file header for the file data; and c) reading said information and calling respective programs which process the file in accordance with the information, without human intervention.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, which file is generated by software, the improvement comprising executing steps which include the following information in said file: a) signals encoding information which is additional to i) system header, ii) file header, iii) user data, and wherein the signal encoding information is located in an auxiliary file to a file for the system header, file header and user data; the auxiliary file also including the system header and the file header.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
84 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, which file is generated by software, the improvement comprising executing steps which include the following information in said file: a) signals encoding information which is additional to i) system header, ii) file header, iii) user data, and wherein the signal encoding information is located in an auxiliary file to a file for the system header, file header and user data; the auxiliary file also including the system header and the file header.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process of claim 7 wherein the file and the auxiliary file are retrievable together.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process of claim 7 wherein the auxiliary file is invisible to a user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer file carried by a tangible storage medium, comprising: a) user data; b) at least two headers; and c) data useful to a non-essential agent, and the data useful to the non-essential agent is located in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file including the at least two headers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer file carried by a tangible storage medium, comprising: a) user data; b) at least two headers; and c) data useful to a non-essential agent, and the data useful to the non-essential agent is located in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file including the at least two headers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer file of claim 10 wherein the file and the auxiliary file are retrievable together.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer file of claim 10 wherein the auxiliary file is invisible to a user.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a computer file contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) multiple fields, for producing signals, which are used by agents other than i) those involved in normal file handling, and ii) an application program able to load the file, and b) the multiple fields being located in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file being related to the field for normal file handling.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
In a computer file contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) multiple fields, for producing signals, which are used by agents other than i) those involved in normal file handling, and ii) an application program able to load the file, and b) the multiple fields being located in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file being related to the field for normal file handling.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
A computer file of claim 13 wherein the file and the auxiliary file are retrievable together.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
A computer file of claim 13 wherein the auxiliary file is invisible to a user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, said computer file containing a first header generated by an application program, the improvement comprising: a) creating, in said computer file, space for information including a second header to be used by an agent other than i) an operating system ii) the application program, and b) locating the space in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file including the first and the second header.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a process of writing a computer file to a storage medium, said computer file containing a first header generated by an application program, the improvement comprising: a) creating, in said computer file, space for information including a second header to be used by an agent other than i) an operating system ii) the application program, and b) locating the space in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file including the first and the second header.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process of claim 16 wherein the file and the auxiliary file are retrievable together.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process of claim 16 wherein the auxiliary file is invisible to a user.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a computer-readable file having file data and being contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) means for indicating at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol information, and locating the indicating means in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file having a header relating the means to the file data.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a computer-readable file having file data and being contained in a tangible storage medium, the improvement comprising: a) means for indicating at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol information, and locating the indicating means in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file having a header relating the means to the file data.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
A file as claimed in claim 19 wherein the file and the auxiliary file are retrievable together.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
16 words
A file as claimed in claim 19 wherein the auxiliary file is invisible to a user.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of processing a computer file, having -- file data, comprising the following steps: a) maintaining, in association with the file, information indicative of at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file, which program runs on an operating system; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol required by the file; b) locating the information indicative of at least two of i) through vi) in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file including a header for the system and a file header for the file data, and c) reading said information and calling respective programs which process the file in accordance with the information, without human intervention.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
142 words
A method of processing a computer file, having -- file data, comprising the following steps: a) maintaining, in association with the file, information indicative of at least two of the following: i) natural language of the file; ii) type of encryption of the file; iii) type of compression of the file; iv) identity of the program which generated the file, which program runs on an operating system; v) identity of the operating system upon which the generating program ran; and vi) communication protocol required by the file; b) locating the information indicative of at least two of i) through vi) in an auxiliary file, the auxiliary file including a header for the system and a file header for the file data, and c) reading said information and calling respective programs which process the file in accordance with the information, without human intervention.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the file and the auxiliary file are retrievable together.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 22 wherein the auxiliary file is invisible to a user.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-22 | 2001-06-23 | 2001-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-22 | 2005-06-23 | 2005-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-22 | 2009-06-23 | 2009-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |