Variable Length Data Storage Device, Variable Length Data Storage Method, Variable Length Data Reading Method, and a Program for the Same

• US 20090144348A1
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Published: 06/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Nishimura, Nobuhiko
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 12/04 Addressing variable-length words or parts of words

Abstract

A variable length data storage device enables clearly and quickly determining where there are breaks in variable length data even when the variable length data is stored without gaps therebetween in a stored data file. A variable length data storage step (S509) stores a plurality of variable length items, each containing variable length data including at the beginning the data length of the variable length data, without gaps therebetween in a stored data file. A marker management item registration step (step S510) registers a plurality of marker management items, each containing a break marker and the storage location of the variable length data corresponding to the break marker, in a marker management file. A marker identifier management item registration step (step S511) registers a plurality of marker identifier management items, each including a marker identifier composed of a predetermined number of characters from the beginning of the text string used as the break marker and the storage location of the break marker, in a marker management memory area.

Claims

1. A variable length data storage device, comprising:

a stored data file in which variable length items including variable length data and the data length of the variable length data are stored;

a marker management file in which are registered marker management items including a break marker corresponding to the variable length data, and the storage location of the variable length data in the stored data file; and

a marker management memory area in which are registered marker identifier management items including a marker identifier composed of specific data in the break marker, and the storage location of the break marker in the marker management file.

2. The variable length data storage device described in claim 1, wherein the break marker is a marker name that is generated according to a predetermined rule when the variable length data is produced, and the marker identifier is a marker identifier name.

3. The variable length data storage device described in claim 2, wherein the predetermined rule is decided based on the date and time when journal information was printed.

4. A variable length data storage method, comprising:

storing variable length items including variable length data and the data length of the variable length data in a stored data file;

registering marker management items including a break marker corresponding to the variable length data, and the storage location of the variable length data in the stored data file, in a marker management file; and

registering marker identifier management items including a marker identifier composed of specific data in the break marker, and the storage location of the break marker in the marker management file, in a marker management memory area.

5. The variable length data storage method described in claim 4, wherein the break marker is a marker name that is generated according to a predetermined rule when the variable length data is produced, and the marker identifier is a marker identifier name.

6. The variable length data storage method described in claim 4, wherein the break marker is used after confirming with reference to the marker management memory area and the marker management file that the break marker is not already used as a break marker.

11. A variable length data storage and reading program for directing a computer to execute the variable length data storage method described in claim 4.

7. A variable length data reading method for reading desired variable length data from a storage device having a stored data file in which variable length items including variable length data and the data length of the variable length data are stored, a marker management file in which are registered marker management items including a break marker corresponding to the variable length data, and the storage location of the variable length data in the stored data file, and a marker management memory area in which are registered marker identifier management items including a marker identifier composed of specific data in the break marker, and the storage location of the break marker in the marker management file, the reading method comprising:

creating a marker identifier based on input search criteria for comparison with the marker identifier of the marker identifier management item;

determining if the created marker identifier matches the marker identifier of the marker identifier management item;

determining if the search criteria matches the break marker of the marker management item when the marker identifier evaluation determines that the created marker identifier matches the marker identifier of the marker identifier management item; and

accessing the stored data file and reading the desired variable length data based on the storage location corresponding to the break marker when the search criteria evaluation determines that the search criteria matches the break marker of the marker management item.

8. The variable length data reading method described in claim 7, wherein the break marker is a marker name that is generated according to a predetermined rule when the variable length data is produced, and the marker identifier is a marker identifier name.

9. The variable length data reading method described in claim 7, wherein, when there is an unprocessed marker identifier management item in the marker management memory area, the variable length data reading method repeats until there is no unprocessed marker identifier management item in the marker management memory area,

even if the created marker identifier is determined to not match the marker identifier of the marker identifier management item,

even if the search criteria is determined to not match the break marker of the marker management item, and

even if the search criteria matches the break marker in the marker management item and the desired variable length data was read.

10. The variable length data reading method described in claim 7, wherein the number of data values in the search criteria is less than the number of data values in the break marker.

12. A variable length data storage and reading program for directing a computer to execute the variable length data reading method described in claim 7.