The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 08, 1994
Filed:
Aug. 29, 1989
Bryan M Willman, Bellevue, WA (US);
Mark J Zbikowski, Woodinville, WA (US);
James G Letwin, Kirkland, WA (US);
Rajen J Shah, Bellevue, WA (US);
Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus interfaces a computer operating system with a storage volume, which is all or part of a data storage media such as a removable floppy-type disk or a hard disk. In a preferred embodiment, the method and apparatus select and associate the appropriate one of a plurality of system drivers with a respective storage volume to permit data communication between the storage volume and the operating system. The method and apparatus permit a single operating system to access a storage medium formatted in accordance with differing file systems, without reprogramming or otherwise altering the operating system. Generally, the operating system identifies which of the plurality of file system drivers is appropriate for reading a particular storage volume and, thereafter, associates the identified file system driver with the particular storage volume. In operation, the operating system accesses the plurality of file system drivers, by providing a mount command, to allow each file system driver to execute a set of instructions to determine whether the accessed file system driver is capable of reading the storage volume. If a file system driver successfully reads the storage volume, it provides an indication to the operating system by providing a certain media signal. The operating system then responds to the certain media signal to associate the file system driver with the storage volume.