System and method for managing file names for file system filter drivers

摘要

Described is a method and system that manages filenames for filter drivers in a file system. The present invention includes a filter manager that handles filename queries from the filter drivers. The filter manager returns a pointer to the requesting filter driver that points to a filename information structure corresponding to the type of filename requested. The filter manager also manages a cache of filename information structures that include information that can be shared among the various filter drivers, amortizing the filename queries for filter drivers. The caching functionality of the filter manager increases the efficiency and reduces the overhead of filename queries within the file system by reducing the number of filename operations required for a file system filter driver to retrieve a desired portion of the filename.