Patent ID: 7124138

Claim:
A computer implemented method of storing and retrieving data of an array, comprising: allocating array elements of the array as each having spaces for plural bytes and a space for a specific byte; initializing the array so that a first data is written into the space for a specific byte of each of the array elements; sequentially storing respective long file names into the space for a specific byte and the spaces for plural bytes of the array elements; setting short file names in the array for each of the stored long file names; deleting a long file name stored in a corresponding array element of the array; writing a second data into the space for a specific byte of the corresponding array element; and sequentially accessing the array elements by first detecting content of the space for a specific byte of an accessed array element and then detecting content of the spaces for plural bytes of the accessed array element, such that when the space for the specific byte of the accessed array element contains the second data, detection of the content of the spaces for plural bytes of the accessed array element is not performed and accessing of a next array element is carried out, and when the space for the specific byte of the accessed array element contains the first data, said sequentially accessing the array elements is ended.