File Server Metadata Extraction for Rapid Client Display
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing file display systems take considerable time to display search results when the number of files stored on a file server is large, as they always need to access the server to generate a new output file, even when only a portion of the files need to be displayed.
Innovation Solution
A file server system that acquires the number of files and start point information to extract a minimal file list from a partitioned data set, calculates the number of preceding and succeeding files, and sends the extracted list to a client, optionally using cache storage to sort and presort file names for faster access and reduced extraction time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the file server generates a new output file by accessing the file server to display search results, then the file list can be displayed, but the time required to display the file list increases considerably when the number of stored files is enormous
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating and storing metadata about files (including file names, paths, and other attributes) in the file server before search operations are performed. When a search is initiated, the client can quickly retrieve this pre-processed metadata without requiring time-consuming access to the actual file contents, thereby significantly reducing the time to display file lists even when enormous numbers of files are stored.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the necessary information (metadata such as file names, paths, and attributes) from the complete file data and stores it separately. This extracted metadata can be quickly searched and displayed without accessing the full file contents, resolving the contradiction between displaying comprehensive file information and minimizing display time.
2Reliability
If the file server stores all file data to enable complete search capability, then search accuracy is maintained, but the time to retrieve and display file lists increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments file information into two distinct components: metadata (file names, paths, attributes) stored in the file server for quick access, and actual file contents stored separately. This segmentation allows the system to maintain complete search capability through accurate metadata while retrieving and displaying file lists rapidly without processing entire file contents.
3Measurement precision
If the system accesses the file server to generate output files for display, then accurate file information is provided, but the processing time increases when numerous files are involved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates and stores copies of file metadata (file names, paths, and attributes) in the file server as a separate data structure. These metadata copies provide accurate file information for search and display operations without requiring access to the actual file contents, thereby maintaining measurement precision while dramatically improving display efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A file server for displaying, on a client, files to be retrieved, a method of providing a display on the client, and a computer program product with program instructions executable on the file server. The number of files to be displayed and start point information related to the start point of a file list to be extracted is acquired from a client, and a file list is extracted from files stored as a partitioned data set in a storage device based on the number of files and start point information acquired. The numbers of preceding and succeeding files stored before and behind the extracted file list are calculated, the calculated numbers of the preceding and succeeding files and the extracted file list are sent to the client. The client displays the file list and the received numbers of remaining files before and behind the received file list, respectively.