US 5,706,504 A · Method and system for storing data objects using a small object data stream

Abstract

A method and system for interfacing an application program with a compound document storage system. The present invention provides an interface which an application program uses to manipulate compound documents. In a preferred embodiment, this interface is implemented in a multilayered architecture. The first layer provides methods which an application program uses to access a compound document using the functions of the second layer. The second layer maps requests to store data in the compound document to a storage format using the functions of the third layer. The third layer maps requests to write to a file to an arbitrary storage medium.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A method in a computer system for storing a plurality of objects of varying sizes in a storage area, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a directory structure in the storage area, the directory structure for referencing streams of data;
allocating a small object stream for storing multiple objects each not larger than a small object size and updating the directory structure to refer to the small object stream using a single reference;
for each object of the plurality of objects that is larger than the small object size,
allocating a stream for the object and updating the directory structure to refer to the allocated stream;
and
storing the object in the allocated stream;
and
for each object of the plurality of objects that is not larger than the small object size, storing the object in a portion of the small object stream such that all objects stored in the small object stream are accessed using the single reference of the directory structure.

5 more elements

A method in a computer system for storing a plurality of objects of varying sizes in a storage area and for dynamically changing a location where the objects of varying sizes are stored, the method comprising:

storing a directory structure in the storage area, the directory structure having entries that reference streams of data;
allocating a small object directory entry in the directory structure for storing multiple objects each not larger than a small object size;
for each object of the plurality of objects that is not larger than the small object size,
when there is sufficient remaining storage in the small object directory entry for storing the object, storing the object in a portion of the small object directory entry such that all objects that are not larger than the small object size are accessed using a single reference to the small object directory entry;
and
when there is not sufficient remaining storage in the small object directory entry for storing the object,
allocating a small object stream for storing multiple objects that are not larger than the small object size;
copying each of the objects stored in the small object directory entry to a portion of the allocated small object stream;
updating the small object directory entry to refer to the small object stream using a single reference;
and
storing the object in another portion of the small object stream such that all objects stored in the small object stream are accessed using the single reference of the small object directory entry;
and
for each object of the plurality of objects that is larger than the small object size,
allocating a stream for the object and updating a directory entry in the directory structure to refer to the allocated stream;
and
storing the object in the allocated stream.

13 more elements

A computer-readable memory medium containing instructions for controlling a computer processor in a computer system to storing a plurality of data collections of varying sizes in a storage area and for dynamically changing a location where the data collections of varying sizes are stored, by performing:

storing a directory structure in the storage area, the directory structure having entries that reference streams of data;
allocating a small data collection directory entry in the directory structure for storing multiple data collections each smaller than a chosen small size;
for each data collection of the plurality of data collections that is smaller than the chosen small size,
when there is sufficient remaining storage in the small data collection directory entry for storing the data collection, storing the data collection in a portion of the small data collection directory entry such that all data collections that are smaller than the chosen small size are accessed using a single reference to the small data collection directory entry;
and
when there is not sufficient remaining storage in the small data collection directory entry for storing the data collection,
allocating a small data stream for storing multiple data collections that are smaller than the chosen small size;
copying each of the data collections stored in the small data collection directory entry to a portion of the allocated small data stream;
updating the small data collection directory entry to refer to the small data stream using a single reference;
and
storing the data collection in another portion of the small data stream such that all data collections stored in the small data stream are accessed using the single reference of the small data collection directory entry;
and
for each data collection of the plurality of data collections that is not smaller than the chosen small size,
allocating a stream for the data collection and updating a directory entry in the directory structure to refer to the allocated stream;
and
storing the data collection in the allocated stream.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for storing data objects using a small object data stream

Life of this patent

Method and system for storing data objects using a small object data stream

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26