The claims of patent 4,956,809 (Mark Williams Company, issued Sep 11, 1990,
perhaps goes back to application in 1982)


1.  A method for use with a portable operating system used on
different computers which use different binary structures, whereby
files containing binary data become portable, comprising the steps of:

By means of a computer, representing in a standardized order
consisting of a standard binary structure file stored on auxiliary
memory or transported on a communications means, said standardized
order being different from a different order used on at least one
of the different computers;

Converting in each of the different computers binary data read from an
auxiliary data storage or communications means from the standardized
order to the natural order of the respective host computer after said
binary data are read from said auxiliary data storage or
communications means and before said binary data are used by the
respective host computer; and

Converting in each of the different computers binary data written into
auxiliary data storage or communications means from the natural order
of the respective host computer to the standardized order prior to
said writing.

2.  A method according to claim 1 wherein the said operating system
comprises a unix-like operating system.

3.  A method according to claim 1 wherein said file comprises a file
system and some or all of said binary data is converted.

4.  A method according to claim 1, wherein said file comprises an
object file expressed in binary.

5.  A method for use on different computers which use different binary
structures, whereby files containing binary data become portable
between the computers, comprising the steps of:

Representing by means of a computer files that are stored for use by
one or more of the computers or are transported on a communications
means to one or more of the computers, in a predetermined binary
structure different than the binary structure used on at least one
of the different computers;

Converting in each of the computers binary data, to be stored for use
by one or more of the computers or to be transported on said
communications means to one or more of the computers, from the binary
structure of the originating computer, to the predetermined binary
structure; and

Converting in each of the computers binary data obtained from said
stored files or from said communications means from the predetermined
binary structure to the binary structure used by said computer.