Computer driven systems and methods for managing data which use two generic data elements and a single ordered file

• US 5,303,367 A
• Filed: 12/04/1990
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Applied Technical Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Applied Technical Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Leenstra, Richard B. Sr., Wurden, Edwin H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kulik, Paul V.
• Application Number:
  US07/621,834
• Time in Patent Office: 1,225 Days
• Field of Search: 395/600, 395/425
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Computer-based systems and methods for managing data. These systems and methods take advantage of a unique model which: increases speed and flexibility; eliminates the need for a complex data manipulation language, data or application dependent software, and separate structuring tools such as pointers, lists, and indexes; and automatically creates among the data relationships which may or may not have been apparent to a user or the designer. Salient, unique features of the systems and methods are their capabilities for providing: a generic data structure consisting of two generic data elements and a generic data set array, indentured data set relationships, inversion of data set relationships, dynamic reorganization of data sets, control over the data relationships that can be established, global linking of data sets, and automatic connection projection. A database structure which is independent of the type of data being managed is established, and the data is entered into a single file in which the data is automatically logically and physically ordered.

Claims

1. A method of employing a computer with input means, memory, and a data processing unit to manage data, said method comprising the steps of:

employing said computer to create an original array of data sets, each said data set having a data type element for differentiating one kind of subject matter from another and a data value element for differentiating data sets with the same data type element and said array containing a key data set and data sets related to said key data set;

employing said computer to link the related data sets in a hierarchy in which the related data sets are each in an indentured relationship to the key data set;

so employing the computer to invert the relationship between an indentured data set in the original array and the remaining data sets in said array as to create an inverted data set array having;

(a) the data set entered in the original array as its key data set, and (b) all data sets higher in the hierarchy of the original data set linked to that key data set in inverted order; and

storing the original and inverted data set arrays in the memory of the computer.

2. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the inverting of the relationship between each data set in the original array and the remaining data sets in that array is automatically performed by the computer when the indentured data set is entered into a data set array.

3. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the inverting of the relationships between an indentured data set in the original array and the remaining data sets in that array is performed by the computer upon the indentured data set being selected by a user.

4. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of employing said computer to prevent the inverting of the relationships between data sets with specified data type elements and the remaining data sets in the original data array.

5. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of employing the computer to so establish global links between data sets in an original data set and with two different data types or data value elements that a specific relationship between said data sets will be maintained in the course of inverting or updating data sets to create an inverted array or otherwise manipulating said data sets.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of employing the computer to create contiguous connections between a selected data set in one of said arrays and data sets in at least one other data set array, thereby making a relationship that may not otherwise be apparent.

7. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the computer is employed, in ordering the indentured data sets in a data set array, to insert a hierarchial designator at the start of each indentured data set.

8. A method as defined in claim 7 in which information other than hierarchial position is included in at least one of the hierarchial designators by said computer.

9. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the computer is employed to insert a data set delimiter at the end of each data set in an array.

10. A method as defined in claim 1 in which the computer is employed to order the indentured data sets in each data set array it generates in a hierarchial alphanumeric sequence.

11. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of employing the computer to insert delimiters in an array of data sets to indicate the end of the data type element in each data set.

12. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the steps of:

employing said input means to select a linked data set from the original or an inverted data set array; and

then employing said computer;

to check for a data set array with a key data set equalling the selected data set;

if such a data set array exists, to search the thus identified data set array for an inverted higher level subarray of the selected data set;

if the inverted higher level subarray matches, to search the identified data set array for any lower level linked data sets; and

to display a connection projection data set array in which;

the key data set is equal to the selected data set, the higher level subarray is indentured to the key data set, and a lower level subarray composed of all lower level linked data sets is indentured to the last data set in the higher level subarray.

13. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the steps of employing said computer to:

select a linked data set from the original or an inverted data set array; and

invert the relationship between the selected linked data set and the remaining data sets in the array in which the selected data set is found and thereby create a further data array having;

the selected data set array as its key data set and all data sets higher in the hierarchy of the data set in which the selected data set was located linked to that key data set in inverted order.

14. A method as defined in claim 13 including the steps of repeating at least once the steps of first selecting a linked data set and then creating a further data array as aforesaid.

15. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of adding to at least one of the data sets in the original data set array one or more data elements following the data type element and the data value element.

16. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of providing a non-distorted, collective view of data contained in the original and inverted arrays and having relationships that may be hidden by employing said computer to:

select a linked key data set from original data set array;

identify each lowest linked data set in the data set array headed by the selected key data set;

identify a higher level subarray for each thus identified and lowest linked data set;

if the lowest linked data set exists elsewhere in said original and inverted data set arrays as a key data set, ascertaining whether the key data set has a lower level subarray;

if it does, first indenting that subarray to the selected data set and then indenting the higher level subarray of the lowest linked data set to the first data set in said lower level subarray;

if the lower level subarray does not exist, indenting the higher level subarray under the selected key data set;

repeating the aforesaid steps for each of the lowest linked data sets; and

then

displaying a contiguous projection data set array thus generated by the computer.

17. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the steps of:

employing said input means to select a linked data set from one of said data set arrays and then employing said computer;

to create a linked data set branch comprised of the selected linked data set and the progressive chain of all directly related data sets linking said selected data set to a root key data set from one of said inverted data set arrays; and

then employing said computer;

to check for a data set array with the key data set equaling the data se at the end of the created linked data set branch and, if such a data set array exists;

to search the thus identified data set array for the same branch as in the previous inverted data set array and, if the branch matches;

to then search the identified data set array branch for any data sets related to the key data set of the previous inverted data set array that are not in that inverted data set array and, if new data sets are found;

to display a connecting projection data set array in which;

the key data set is that of the previous inverted data set array and any related data sets found in the previous step are indentured to the last linked data set in the created branch.

18. A method as defined in claim 1 which includes the step of providing a non-distorted collective view of data contained in any data set array having relationships which are not directly shown by:

employing said input means to select a key data set from one of said data set arrays and then employing said computer;

to create a set of linked data set branch segments comprised of the selected key data set and the progressive chain of all its directly related linked data sets out to the ends of the branches and subbranches away from a root key data set; and

to select each branch segment in the set and identify the linked data set in each branch segment farthest from the root key data set;

to check for a data set array with the key data set equaling the data set at the end of each selected branch segment and, if such a data set array exists;

to search the thus identified data set array for the same branch segment as in the previous data set array and, if the branch segment matches, then;

to search the identified data set array for data sets connected to a branch segment further from the root key data set that are not in said previous data set array branch segment and, if new data sets are found;

to first indent said new data sets in the order found under the previously selected key data set and then indent said branch segment to the last data set added and, if new data sets are not found;

to indent said branch segment to the previously selected key data set;

to repeat the aforesaid steps for each of the branch segments; and

then

to display a connection projection data set array thus generated by the computer.

19. A method as defined in claim 1 in which all of the data making up the original and inverted data set arrays is stored in a single file.

20. A method as defined in claim 19 which includes the step of employing said computer to automatically rearrange the data in said file and thereby maintain an ordered sequence of data each time data is entered in said file.

21. A method as defined in claim 19 which includes the step of employing said computer to avoid duplications of data sets in said file.

22. A method as defined in claim 19 which includes the step of employing said computer to:

group the original and inverted data set arrays into blocks; and

so store the data making up said file in the file such that there are spaces between blocks in which additional data can be stored, thereby making it possible to store additional data with little, if any, rearrangement of the data already in the file.

23. A method as defined in claim 19 which includes the step of employing said computer to insert a hierarchial designator at the beginning of each data set in said file and a data set delimiter at the end of each data set.

24. A method as defined in claim 19 in which the computer derives all relationships among data sets in said file without recourse to information outside of said file.

25. A method as defined in claim 24 in which all relationships among data sets in said file are derived by using said indenturing and inversion processes.

26. A method as defined in claim 19 which includes the step of employing said computer to restrict to selected kinds the data types that can be entered in said file.

27. In a method which:

(1) utilizes a computer with input means, memory, and a data processing unit to retrieve relevant data from a compilation of data that;

(a) is inputted by said input means, (b) is stored in said memory, and (c) includes the relevant data, and (2) requires only said computer for structuring relationships among the items of data, the steps of;

employing the computer to resolve the compilation of data into multiple arrays of data sets, each said data set having a data type element for differentiating one type of subject matter from another and a data value element for differentiating data sets with the same data type element from each other and each said data set array containing a key data set and data sets related to said key data set; and

employing said computer to so link the data sets in the data arrays as to make evident relationships among the data sets which exist but are not directly connected.

28. A method as defined in claim 27 in which the computer is employed to indenture and maintain the related data sets to the key data set in a sequential, hierarchial order.

29. A method as defined in claim 28 in which, in ordering the indentured data sets in a data set array, the computer is employed to insert a hierarchial designator at the start of each indentured data set.

30. A method as defined in claim 29 in which information other than hierarchical position is included in at least one of the hierarchial designators by said computer.

31. A method as defined in claim 28 in which the linked data sets are stored in memory in hierarchial alphanumeric order.

32. A method as defined in claim 27 in which the computer is employed to insert a data set delimiter at the end of each data set in an array.

33. A method as defined in claim 27 which includes the step of employing the computer to insert delimiters in said arrays to indicate the end of the data type in each data set.

34. A method as defined in claim 27 in which all of the data making up said data set arrays is stored in an ordered, sequential manner in a single file.

35. A method as defined in claim 34 which includes the step of employing said computer to automatically rearrange the data in said file and thereby maintain the ordered sequence of data each time data is entered in said file.

36. A method as defined in claim 34 in which the computer is employed to derive all relationships among the data sets in said file without recourse to information outside of said file.

37. A method as defined in claim 34 which includes the step of employing said computer to limit the kinds of data types that can be entered in said file, and to check data value formats.

38. A method of managing data which includes the steps of:

generating a multiplicity of data sets, each of which contains a data type element for differentiating one type of subject matter from another and a data value element which differentiates data sets with the same data type element from each other;

grouping said data sets into one or more original hierarchial arrays, each having a key data set and linked data sets indentured to the key data set; and

so inverting relationships between an indentured data set and the other data sets in the same data set array as to create a new, inverted array of data sets in which the indentured data set is the key data set and all higher level data sets in the original array are indentured to the key data set of the new, inverted array.

39. A method as defined in claim 38 in which the inverting of the relationships between the indentured data set and the other data sets in the same data set array is automatically performed when the selected indentured data set is entered into a data set array.

40. A method as defined in claim 38 in which the inverting of the relationships between the indentured data set and the other data sets in the same data set array is performed upon the indentured data set being entered by a user.

41. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the step of employing said computer to prevent the inverting of the relationships between data sets having specified data type elements.

42. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the step of so establishing global links between data sets that relationships existing between said data sets will be maintained in the course of inverting data sets to create a new array or in otherwise manipulating said data sets.

43. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the step of creating contiguous connections between a selected data set in one data set array and data sets in at leas one other data set array, thereby making visible relationships that may not otherwise be apparent.

44. A method as defined in claim 38 in which, in ordering the indentured data sets in a data set array, a hierarchial designator is inserted at the start of each indentured data set.

45. A method as defined in claim 44 in which information other than hierarchial position is included in at least one of the hierarchial designators.

46. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the step of inserting delimiters in said arrays to indicate the end of the data type in each data set.

47. A method as defined in claim 38 in which the indentured data sets in a data set array are ordered in a hierarchial alphanumeric sequence.

48. A method as defined in claim 38 in which a data set delimiter is inserted at the end of each data set in an array.

49. A method as defined in claim 38 in which the linked data sets are stored in memory in hierarchial alphanumeric order.

50. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the steps of:

selecting a linked data set from one of said data set arrays; and

then

checking for a data set array with a key data equalling the selected data set;

if such a data set array exists, searching the thus identified data set array for an inverted higher level subarray of the selected data set;

if the inverted higher level subarray matches, searching the identified data set array for any lower level linked data sets; and

displaying a connection projection data set array in which;

the key data set is equal to the selected data set, the higher level subarray is indentured to the key data set, and a lower level subarray composed of all lower level linked data sets is indentured to the last data set in the higher level subarray.

51. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the steps of:

selecting a linked data set from one of the data set arrays, and

so inverting the relationships between the selected linked data set and the remaining data sets in the array in which the selected data set is found and as to create a further data array having;

the selected data set array as its key data set and all data sets higher in the hierarchy of the data set in which the selected data set was found linked to that key data set in inverted order.

52. A method as defined in claim 51 which includes the steps of repeating at least once the steps of first entering a linked data set and then creating a further data array as aforesaid.

53. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the steps of establishing between two of the data sets a relationship which remains constant irrespective of the subsequent manipulation of one or both of said data sets.

54. A method as defined in claim 38 in which at least one of said data sets has one or more data elements following the data type element and the data value element.

55. A method as defined in claim 38 which includes the step of providing a non-distorted, collective view of data contained in said arrays and having relationships that may otherwise by invisible by:

selecting a data set from the arrays;

identifying each lower linked data set in the data set array headed by the selected data set;

identifying a higher level subarray for each thus identified lowest linked data set;

if the selected data set exists elsewhere in the said arrays as a key data set, ascertaining whether the key data set has a lower level subarray;

if it does, first indenting that subarray to the key data set and then indenting the higher level subarray of the lowest linked data set to the first data set in said lower level subarray;

if the lower level subarray does not exist, indenting the higher level subarray under the selected data set;

repeating the aforesaid steps for each of the lowest linked data sets; and

then displaying the thus generated contiguous projection data set array.

56. A method as defined in claim 40 in which all of the data making up said data set arrays is stored in a ordered, sequential manner in a single file.

57. A method as defined in claim 56 which includes the step of automatically rearranging the data in said file each time data is entered in said file and thereby maintaining the ordered sequence of data.

58. A method as defined in claim 56 which includes the steps of:

grouping the data set arrays into blocks, and

so storing the data making up said file in the file that there are spaces between said blocks in which additional data can be stored, thereby making it possible to store said additional data with little, if any, rearrangement of the data already in the file.

59. A method as defined in claim 40 which includes the step of restricting to selected the data types that can be entered in said arrays.

60. In a method of retrieving relevant data from a compilation of data elements without the use of a separate means for structuring relationships among the data elements, the steps of:

resolving the compilation of data elements into one or more arrays of data sets, each having a data type element for differentiating one type of subject matter from another and a data value element for differentiating data-sets with the same data type element from each other and each said data set array containing a key data set and data sets related to said key data set; and

so linking the data sets in the data arrays as to make visible relationships among the data sets which exist but are not defined.

61. A method as defined in claim 60 in which the related data sets are indentured under a key data set in a sequential, hierarchial order.

62. A method as defined in claim 60 in which, in ordering the indentured data sets in a data set array, a hierarchial designator is inserted at the start of each indentured data set.

63. A method as defined in claim 62 in which information other than hierarchial position is included in at least one of the hierarchial designators.

64. A method as defined in claim 60 in which the linked data sets are stored in hierarchial alphanumeric order.

65. A method as defined in claim 60 in which a data set delimiter is inserted at the end of each data set in an array.

66. A method as defined in claim 60 in which delimiters are inserted to indicate the end of the data type in each data set.

67. A method as defined in claim 60 in which all of the data making up said data set arrays is stored in an ordered, sequential manner in a single file.

68. A method as defined in claim 67 which includes the steps of automatically rearranging the data in said file and thereby maintaining the ordered sequence of data each time data is entered in said file.

69. A method as defined in claim 67 which includes the step of keeping duplicate data sets from said file.

70. A method as defined in claim 67 file. which all relationships among data sets in said file are derived without recourse to information outside of the file

71. A method as defined in claim 67 which includes the steps of limiting the kinds of data that can be entered in said file.

72. A data management computer system which comprises:

means for creating data sets, each having a data type element for differentiating one type of subject matter from another and a data value element for differentiating data sets with the same data type element from each other;

means for organizing said data sets into one or more data arrays, each of said data set arrays having a key data set and one or more linked data sets indentured to the key data set in a sequential hierarchial relationship; and

memory means in which the thus generated and organized data sets can be stored.

73. A system as defined in claim 72 in which the computer has means for inverting relationships between a selected data set and the other data sets in the data set array in which the selected data set is entered, thereby creating a new, inverted array of data sets in which the selected data set is the key data set and all other higher level sets in the original array are indentured to the key data set of the new, inverted array.

74. A system as defined in claim 72 which has a data control module for inhibiting the inversion of those data sets input by a user.

75. A system as defined in claim 72 which has means for so establishing user-designatable global links between selected data sets that will be maintained throughout the course of creating an inverted array and/or other manipulations of the data sets.

76. A system as defined in claim 72 which has means for automatically establishing contiguous connections between data sets in different arrays and thereby making visible relationships among data sets that may not otherwise be apparent.

77. A system as defined in claim 72 which has means for arranging the data sets in each array in hierarchial order.

78. A system as defined in claim 72 which has means which is used to designate the hierarchial position and delimit the end of each data set and the end of the data type element in each data set.

79. A system as defined in claim 78 which has means that can be employed to add other information to the designator of a data set hierarchial position.

80. A system as defined in claim 72 which has means for creating a single file and for storing all data arrays generated by the system in that file.

81. A system as defined in claim 80 which has means for automatically rearranging the data in said file each time new data is entered in that file and thereby maintaining the data in the file in a specified order.

82. A system as defined in claim 72 which has a data control module selectively employable to limit the kinds of data which can be entered into the system for processing.

83. A system as defined in claim 72 which has means for repairing a data base with partially corrupted data.

84. A method for employing a computer with input means, random access memory, and a data processing unit to manage data, said method comprising the steps of:

employing said computer to create and manipulate a plurality of original data set arrays comprised of a key data set and zero or more related data sets linked to the key data set, each said key and related data set having a variable length data type element for differentiating one kind of subject matter from another and a variable length data value element for differentiating data sets with the same data type element, each data type being delimited with a unique character or binary number at its end to separate it from the data value element and each key and related data set being delimited by a unique character or binary number at the end thereof to separate said data set from other data sets;

employing said computer, without the use of memory pointers, to contiguously link selected related data sets in memory to a key data set or to existing related data sets in a data set array in a hierarchical tree arrangement with an indenturing process which uses hierarchy designators to establish a hierarchy of related data sets indentured to the key data set, the key data set acting as a root of said hierarchy and the related data sets being linked as multiple level branches to said root;

so employing the computer to create one or more new inverted data set arrays with the same structure as the original data set array, using an inversion process by which;

(a) each selected indentured data set from the original data set array is used to create a new key data set, and (b) all data sets in said original data set array which are data set hierarchy branches containing the indentured data set which re nearer said root are indentured to the new key data set in inverted order using said indenturing process; and

storing the original and inverted data set arrays in the memory of the computer.

85. A method as defined in claim 84 which comprises the steps of employing the computer to exclude data sets from the creation, indenturing, and inversion processes based upon data element type and data element value rules established by the user and store in memory.

86. A method as defined in claim 84 which includes the step of employing said computer to automatically rearrange the data in said file and maintain the sequence of data sets in the data set arrays in the order in which they are arrayed by using said indenturing and inversion processes.

87. A method as defined in claim 84 which includes the step of employing said computer to avoid duplications of data sets in said data set arrays when a data set is directed by an operator and entered in said file by, each time a data set is so entered:

matching the data to be entered with existing data in the data set array; and

if there is no match, placing the data set in a data set array comprised of a key data set and one or more related data sets linked as aforesaid.