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. 16, 2010
Filed:
Nov. 14, 2005
Greg Marriott, Palo Alto, CA (US);
David A. Shayer, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Greg Marriott, Palo Alto, CA (US);
David A. Shayer, Palo Alto, CA (US);
Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
Techniques for converting file-systems used for organizing and storing data on computer readable mediums are disclosed. A first file-system is converted to a second file-system while file(s) stored on the computer readable medium remain(s) virtually undisturbed in the same location. A FAT file-system (e.g., FAT32) is converted to an HFS file-system (e.g., HFS Plus) by generating HFS data structures (Catalog, Allocation File and Extents) for file(s) already stored in the HFS file-system. The number and location of the file(s) can be determined primarily based on the FAT file-system's data structures (FAT and Directory). The conversion process can be stopped before the FAT file-system indicators (partition map and boot sector) are overwritten. After the HFS data structured have been generated and successfully verified for the file(s) already stored on the computer readable medium, the HFS file-system can effectively replace the FAT file-system by modifying the partition map and writing a volume header that may overwrite that boot sector. Similarly, A HFS file-system can be converted to a FAT. In general, any file-system used to organize and store files can be converted based on the location of the files(s) which is typically readily obtainable from the original file-system.