Using a hierarchical file system for indexing data broadcast to a client from a network of servers

Abstract

A broadcast file system organizes data sent to a client by broadcast via a high capacity data broadcast delivery network from a plurality of servers. The data is organized into a hierarchical file system including a directory index. A server registers to send data via the broadcast file system of the present invention and is assigned a respective directory. The server may create, modify, or delete a subdirectory or a file under the respective directory of that server. The directory index is periodically broadcast. The client caches this directory index and presents the directory index to a client application. The client application may request a portion of data from the directory index. The data available from the plurality of servers is periodically broadcast to the client, and the client filters out the requested portion of data to be provided to the client application. In this manner, broadcast data available from a plurality of server appears to a client application as a hierarchical file system having a directory index similar to that of a computer operating system. Moreover, the client application may request specified data not within the directory index via a two-way communications network. If this data is found, this specified data may be sent to the client via the two-way communication network or via the broadcast delivery network. In addition, the broadcast file system of the present invention may be used for broadcasting data from a database with the directory index organized according to a database schema.