System and method for storing and retrieving filenames and files in computer memory

A system for storing filenames in a memory device comprising:

• means for determining a default text encoding based on a text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to the memory device;
• means for converting a filename from the default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;
• means for storing the converted filename in the memory device;
• and
• means for modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of the default text encoding, wherein the encoding bitmap includes a list of one or more types of text encodings;
• and wherein the means for modifying comprises:
• means for setting a bit corresponding to the default text encoding in the encoding bitmap, the encoding bitmap located in the memory device and including a list of previously-used text encodings.

A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions for causing a computer to perform operations comprising:

• determining a default text encoding based on a text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to a memory device;
• converting a filename from the default text encoding to Unicode text encoding;
• storing the converted filename in the memory device;
• and
• modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of the default text encoding, wherein the encoding bitmap includes a list of one or more types of text encodings;
• and wherein the modifying comprises:
• setting a bit corresponding to the default text encoding in the encoding bitmap, the encoding bitmap located in the memory device and including a list of previously-used text encodings.

A computer-implemented method for retrieving filenames from a memory device, comprising:

• receiving a retrieval request;
• converting the retrieval request from a default text encoding to Unicode text encoding, the default text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to the memory device;
• searching the memory device for a filename which matches the converted retrieval request;
• retrieving a file having the matching filename from the memory device;
• and
• modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of the default text encoding, wherein the encoding bitmap includes a list of one or more types of text encodings;
• and wherein the modifying comprises:
• setting a bit corresponding to the default text encoding in the encoding bitmap, the encoding bitmap located in the memory device and including a list of previously-used text encodings.

A system for retrieving filenames from a memory device comprising:

• means for receiving a retrieval request;
• means for converting the retrieval request from a default text encoding to Unicode text encoding, the default text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to the memory device;
• means for searching the memory device for a filename which matches the converted retrieval request;
• means for retrieving a file having the matching filename from the memory device;
• and
• means for modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of the default text encoding, wherein the encoding bitmap includes a list of one or more types of text encodings;
• and wherein the means for modifying comprises:
• means for setting a bit corresponding to the default text encoding in the encoding bitmap, the encoding bitmap located in the memory device and including a list of previously-used text encodings.

A computer-readable storage medium for storing instructions for causing a computer to perform operations comprising:

• receiving a retrieval request;
• converting the retrieval request from a default text encoding to Unicode text encoding, the default text encoding used to display text on a monitor coupled to a memory device;
• searching the memory device for a filename which matches the converted retrieval request;
• retrieving a file having the matching filename from the memory device;
• and
• modifying an encoding bitmap to indicate the use of the default text encoding, wherein the encoding bitmap includes a list of one or more types of text encodings;
• and wherein the modifying comprises:
• setting a bit corresponding to the default text encoding in the encoding bitmap, the encoding bitmap located in the memory device and including a list of previously-used text encodings.

An article of manufacture comprising:

• a machine-accessible medium including data that, when accessed by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising,
• providing a plurality of data fields, each data field corresponding to a different text encoding;
• and
• setting a binary digit value associated with each data field, the binary digit value for each data field indicating whether the corresponding text encoding has been used on a computing system;
• and wherein the machine-accessible medium further includes data that cause the machine to perform operations comprising:
• if a conversion of a filename from a default text encoding of the computing system to Unicode text encoding was successful, setting the binary digit value associated with the data field corresponding to the default text encoding to 1.