Patent AU-2021282427-A1 (AU)
Title: Architecture, method and apparatus for enforcing collection and display of computer file metadata
Inventor: COLLA GREGORY ALAN
IPC: G06F16/16
Filed: 2021-12-07
Abstract: Disclosed is a system for displaying and capturing file metadata of an application data file 
stored on a computer; said computer including a processor and memory; said memory storing 
an operating system for managing operations of the computer; said memory further storing a 
kernel of the operating system; said computer further including a user interface and at least 
one installed application installed on said computer for interacting with a user which, when 
executed by the processor under the control of the operating system, processes said 
application data file; said system comprising: 
a. a File System Metadata Filter Driver installed on said computer, whereby said kernel 
of said operating system signals said File System Metadata Filter Driver when said installed 
application accesses said application data file; 
b. at least one Metadata Application Thread, which the system injects into said installed 
application when an application process for execution of said installed application is created, 
whereby said Metadata Application Thread handles messages generated by said installed 
application and modifies the user interface of said installed application to display 
information related to installed application file metadata of said installed application; 
c. Said memory including Metadata Storage which stores said application file metadata, 
from which said at least one Metadata Application Thread reads said file metadata, and to 
which said at least one Metadata Application Thread writes said installed application file 
metadata; 
d. a Metadata Manager operating on said computer, whereby said File System Metadata 
Filter Driver signals said Metadata Manager when said at least one application data file is 
accessed, and which in turn notifies said Metadata Application Thread appropriate to that one 
of said at least one installed application which is accessing said application data file.  
Also disclosed is a method for displaying and capturing file metadata of an application data 
file stored on a computer; said computer including a processor and memory; said memory 
storing an operating system for managing operations of the computer; said memory further 
storing a kernel of the operating system; said computer further including a user interface and 
at least one installed application installed on said computer for interacting with a user which, 
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when executed by the processor under the control of the operating system, processes said 
application data file; said method comprising: 
a. installing a File System Metadata Filter Driver on said computer, whereby said kernel 
of said operating system signals said File System Metadata Filter Driver when said installed 
application accesses said application data file; 
b. injecting at least one Metadata Application Thread into said installed application 
when an application process for execution of said installed application is created, whereby 
said Metadata Application Thread handles messages generated by said installed application 
and modifies the user interface of said installed application to display information related to 
installed application file metadata of said installed application; 
c. providing Metadata Storage in said memory which stores said application file 
metadata, from which said at least one Metadata Application Thread reads said file metadata, 
and to which said at least one Metadata Application Thread writes said installed application 
file metadata; 
providing a Metadata Manager operating on said computer, whereby said File System 
Metadata Filter Driver signals said Metadata Manager when said at least one application data 
file is accessed, and which in turn notifies said Metadata Application Thread appropriate to 
that one of said at least one installed application which is accessing said application data file.  
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