Abstract: A method of processing a viewport within an image arranged as a matrix of tiles from a container file is provided. The method includes reading data of the viewport starting from a point of origin of the viewport, the viewport having a pixel width and a pixel height, the viewport being a portion of an image stored in a record within the file container; reading record metadata of the record; computing column numbers or row numbers, or both, of the tiles containing the viewport; and launching parallel or asynchronous read requests for each row or each column of the viewport.

Abstract: A method and system for storing data files are provided. The method includes receiving a first data file and a first data file virtualization policy; associating the first data file with the first data file virtualization policy; and storing the first data file and the first data file virtualization policy on a storage device in communication with the computer system.

Abstract: A method and system for requesting information by a client computer system from a server computer system are provided. The method includes sending a request for policy capability of the server computer system for a data type; receiving a response to the request including a list of derived data types that are supported by the server computer system; generating a policy using the list of derived data types; and sending a first data file and a first data file virtualization policy for storage.

Abstract: A method and system for retrieving at least a portion of a first data file are provided. The method includes receiving a request for the at least a portion of the first data file, the request including a start of the at least a portion and a size of the at least a portion; computing a data offset that is aligned to an integer multiple of a block size of the storage device and nearest to the start of the at least a portion; computing a byte-range that is an integer multiple of the block size of the storage device; reading data within the byte-range; and transmitting the at least a portion starting at an offset relative to the data offset that is aligned to an integer multiple of the block size of the storage device.

Abstract: A container file for storing images in a storage device, the container file includes container file metadata including information about the container file and a status mark indicating whether the container file is available or unavailable; and one or more records, each record of the one or more records comprising: an image file section reserved for storing an image, an image metadata section reserved for storing data about the image, and a record metadata section including information about the record and at least a status mark indicating whether the record is empty, being updated, valid or invalid.

Abstract: A method of processing a viewport within an image arranged as a matrix of tiles from a container file is provided. The method includes reading data of the viewport starting from a point of origin of the viewport, the viewport having a pixel width and a pixel height, the viewport being a portion of an image stored in a record within the file container; reading record metadata of the record; computing column numbers or row numbers, or both, of the tiles containing the viewport; and launching parallel or asynchronous read requests for each row or each column of the viewport.

Abstract: A method of inserting an image into a container file including reading source data including the image; opening the container file where the image will be stored, the container file comprising one or more records. Each record includes an image file section reserved for storing the image, an image metadata section reserved for storing data about the image, and a record metadata section having a status flag or status mark indicating whether the image file section is empty. The method further includes determining whether the source data is valid to be entered into a record in the one or more records; if the source of data is valid, preparing the record and the image metadata; and writing the record into the container file and marking the status mark of the record as being updated while writing the record into the container file.