Extensible File System Directory Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current file system formats for portable storage media lack flexibility to accommodate increasing storage size capacities and diverse storage media applications, failing to provide adequate support for complex portable computing devices.

Innovation Solution

An extensible file system format is introduced, featuring customizable primary and secondary directory entry types, which can be classified as critical or benign, allowing for boot parameters specification, file allocation tables, and meta data association, enabling flexible data storage and management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If current file system format is used, then basic storage functionality is provided, but flexibility for increasing storage size capacities and diverse applications is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveflexibilityVSAvoidfile system structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The file system directory structure is segmented into primary directory entries and secondary directory entries. Primary entries contain essential file information, while secondary entries provide optional extended attributes and metadata. This segmentation allows the file system to maintain basic functionality with simple structures while enabling flexibility through optional secondary entries that can be added as needed for different applications and storage capacities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If critical directory entries are not recognized, then file system reliability is maintained by refusing to mount, but compatibility with new features is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting reliabilityVSAvoidfeature compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Different tolerance levels are applied to different directory entry types. Critical directory entries require recognition for reliable file system operation, while benign directory entries are treated with tolerance - if unrecognized, the file system simply ignores them rather than refusing to mount. This local quality approach ensures reliability for essential functions while maintaining compatibility with new features implemented through benign entries that older systems may not recognize.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If benign directory entries are ignored when unrecognized, then forward compatibility is maintained, but loss of potentially useful metadata occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforward compatibilityVSAvoidmetadata

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Optional metadata and extended attributes are extracted into separate secondary directory entries that are distinct from the core file system structure. These secondary entries can be added without affecting the fundamental file system operation. When encountered by older file systems that don't recognize them, these entries are safely ignored rather than causing errors, while newer systems can utilize the additional metadata information they contain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9639554B2Extensible file system

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

An extensible file system format for portable storage media is provided. The extensible file system format includes the specification of primary and secondary directory entry types that may be custom defined. The primary and secondary directory entry types can be further classified as critical and benign directory entries.