Data compression method and apparatus
First Claim
1. In a data processing system which includes a processor unit and a data terminal device having a keyboard operated to generate data indentifying the operator of the keyboard and the type of terminal transaction, means for outputting time of day data which includes the date, the hour and minutes, and memory means including a circular buffer for storing a plurality of data records which includes the identity of the operator, the type of terminal transaction and the time and date the keyboard is operated, a method for processing the data records comprising the steps of:
- generating a first data record including a data portion identifying the keyboard operator, the type of terminal transaction and minutes and a time of day data portion comprising the hour and the date of the keyboard operation;
storing the first data record in a first location in the circular buffer;
storing the time of day portion of said first data record in a first storage area of the memory means;
generating a plurality of second data records each including a data portion identifying the keyboard operator, type of terminal transaction and minutes and a time of day data portion comprising the hour and date of the keyboard operation;
comparing the time of day data portion of each subsequently generated second data records with the time of day data portion stored in the first storage area of the memory means;
storing the data portions of each subsequently generated second data records identifying the keyboard operator, the type of terminal transaction and the minutes in consecutive locations in the circular buffer; and
storing those time of day data portions of the second data records in said consecutive locations in the circular buffer when the time of day data portions are not the same as the time of day data portions stored in the first storage area of the memory means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and apparatus for compressing redundant and non-redundant binary data generated as part of an operation of a time and attendance terminal in which the data represents the time an employee is present during working hours. The first data entry includes the date and the time the employee operates the terminal together with other data identifying the employee which is stored in a circular buffer. The time of day data includes the hour and the minutes of the keyboard operation. Subsequent data entries include redundant data such as the date and the hour of the terminal operation which may not change and non-redundant data such as the minutes that pertain to the terminal operation together with data identifying the operator. After the redundant and non-redundant data of the first data entry are stored, only the non-redundant data of each subsequent data entry is stored. Upon reading out the non-redundant data from the buffer, a pointer which includes the redundant data such as the date and the hour of the first data entry is added to the non-redundant data read. If the date and/or hour changes, such changed data is stored in the buffer and is transferred to the pointer as the data is read out of the buffer, thus updating the data stored in the pointer.
100 Citations
5 Claims
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1. In a data processing system which includes a processor unit and a data terminal device having a keyboard operated to generate data indentifying the operator of the keyboard and the type of terminal transaction, means for outputting time of day data which includes the date, the hour and minutes, and memory means including a circular buffer for storing a plurality of data records which includes the identity of the operator, the type of terminal transaction and the time and date the keyboard is operated, a method for processing the data records comprising the steps of:
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generating a first data record including a data portion identifying the keyboard operator, the type of terminal transaction and minutes and a time of day data portion comprising the hour and the date of the keyboard operation; storing the first data record in a first location in the circular buffer; storing the time of day portion of said first data record in a first storage area of the memory means; generating a plurality of second data records each including a data portion identifying the keyboard operator, type of terminal transaction and minutes and a time of day data portion comprising the hour and date of the keyboard operation; comparing the time of day data portion of each subsequently generated second data records with the time of day data portion stored in the first storage area of the memory means; storing the data portions of each subsequently generated second data records identifying the keyboard operator, the type of terminal transaction and the minutes in consecutive locations in the circular buffer; and storing those time of day data portions of the second data records in said consecutive locations in the circular buffer when the time of day data portions are not the same as the time of day data portions stored in the first storage area of the memory means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification