System and method for managing file names for file system filter drivers

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable components, comprising:

• a filter manager for managing filename requests by a first filter driver for a file system, the filter manager being configured to:
• receive an input/output request packet from an application:
• send a notification to at least one filter driver that indicates the receipt of the input/output packet;
• receive a filename request from the first filter driver for a filename with a specified format, wherein the filename request comprises a file object corresponding to an open instance of a file identified by the filename;
• determine whether a filename information structure satisfying the filename request has been previously cached, and returning a pointer to the first filter driver that points to the filename information structure when the filename information structure has been previously cached;
• and
• when the filename information structure has not been previously cached:
• call a filename provider to generate a filename corresponding to the filename request, wherein the filename provider is determined based on the first filter driver;
• locate a filename information structure corresponding to the filename request, wherein the filename information structure is located based on the file object and the filename provider;
• cache the located filename information structure correspond to the filename received from the filename provider;
• and
• return a pointer to the first component that points to the located filename information structure.

A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for a filter manager to manage filenames for file system filter drivers, the instructions comprising:

• receiving, at a filter manager, an input/output request packet from an application;
• sending, from the filter manager, a notification to at least one filter driver that indicates that the filter manager has received the input/output request packet;
• receiving, on the filter manager, a filename request from a first filter driver for a filename within a specified format, wherein the filename request comprises a file object corresponding to an open instance of a file identified by the filename;
• determining whether a filename information structure satisfying the filename request has been previously cached, and returning a pointer to the first filter driver that points to the filename information structure when the filename information structure has been previously cached;
• and
• when the filename information structure has not been previously cached:
• sending, from the filter manager, a call to a filename provider to generate a filename corresponding to the filename request when a filename information structure has not been previously cached, wherein the filename provider is determined based on the first filter driver;
• locating a filename information structure corresponding to the filename request, wherein the filename information structure is located based on the file object and the filename provider;
• caching the located filename information structure correspond to the filename received from the filename provider;
• and
• sending, from the filter manager to the first filter driver, a pointer that points to the located filename information structure.