Extensible method and system for storage metadata

A method of using an extensible language to represent storage metadata, the method comprising:

• obtaining storage metadata that is written in a platform-specific key-value coded, compressed binary format, interpretations of the platform-specific key-value coded format by two or more operating systems on a computing system cause an interpretation disagreement in the storage metadata, the storage metadata includes a hard disk partition table including data describing partitions of the hard disk, block addressing data for locating data stored in the computer-readable storage medium, and booting instruction code including data configured to control booting of the system;
• resolving the interpretation disagreement in the storage metadata with respect to the two or more operating systems, the resolving including:
• translating the hard disk partition table to an extensible language format that includes generating a first key-value pair that identifies a format of the hard disk partition table;
• translating the block addressing data to the extensible language format that includes generating a second key-value pair that identifies a start address on a computer-readable storage medium where the booting instruction code is stored;
• and
• translating the booting instruction code to the extensible language format that includes generating a third key-value pair that identifies an end address on the computer-readable storage medium where the booting instruction code is stored;
• representing the translated hard disk partition table, block addressing data, and booting instruction code by modifying the translated hard disk partition table in the extensible language format;
• storing the translated hard disk partition table, block addressing data, and booting instruction code by modifying the translated hard disk partition table in the computing system;
• and
• manipulate, in the extensible language format, at least one of the translated hard disk partition table, block addressing data, and booting instruction code by repartitioning the translated hard disk partition table by a repartitioning utility that understands the extensible language format.

A processor configured to execute computer instructions to cause a computing system to perform operations for using an extensible language to represent storage metadata, the operations comprising:

• obtaining storage metadata that is written in a platform-specific key-value coded, compressed binary format, interpretations of the platform-specific key-value coded format by two or more operating systems on the computing system cause an interpretation disagreement in the storage metadata in response to the storage metadata, the storage metadata includes a hard disk partition table including data describing partitions of the hard disk, block addressing data for locating data stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and booting instruction code including data configured to control booting of the system;
• resolving the interpretation disagreement in the storage metadata with respect to the two or more operating systems, the resolving including:
• translating the hard disk partition table to an extensible language format that includes generating a first key-value pair that identifies a format of the hard disk partition table;
• translating the block addressing data to the extensible language format that includes generating a second key-value pair that identifies a start address on the computer-readable storage medium where the booting instruction code is stored;
• and
• translating the booting instruction code to the extensible language format that includes generating a third key-value pair that identifies an end address on the computer-readable storage medium where the booting instruction code is stored;
• writing the storage metadata to a computer-readable storage medium in the extensible language format;
• manipulating, in the extensible language format, the translated hard disk partition table, block addressing data, and booting instruction code by repartitioning the translated hard disk partition table by a repartitioning utility;
• and
• transferring the translated hard disk partition table, block addressing data, and booting instruction code to an electronic device.