Patent ID: 7548927
Filing Date: 2009-06-16
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. In a computing environment including a data file and a plurality of differently formatted portions of metadata corresponding to the data file, each differently formatted portion of metadata including a plurality of metadata fields comprising metadata elements corresponding to the data file, a computer-readable storage medium having thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method for determining which metadata format to return when one or more fields of metadata elements for the data file are to be accessed, the method comprising: receiving a request for a metadata field that corresponds to the data file, the data file having a plurality of corresponding differently formatted metadata elements formatted at least in a first and a second different format type; referring to metadata priority data corresponding to the requested metadata field that indicates which metadata element format receives priority for the requested metadata field; determining that metadata elements of the first format type are to be returned according to the metadata priority data; and based on the determination, returning the metadata elements from the metadata field having the first format type, wherein locations in the metadata that map to a path parameter are obtained and wherein at least one output corresponds to one of the locations.