System and method of encoding units of data including entity/relationship data, function calls, and file data using a common data format (CDF) according to formal CDF grammar rules
First Claim
1. In a computer system having stored units of data, a computer implemented method comprising the steps of:
- (1) reading units of data from storage, each unit of data representing one of entity/relationship data, a function call, and file data; and
(2) encoding all of said units of data using a common data format (CDF) according to formal CDF grammar rules to create a data stream comprising said encoded units of data.
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Abstract
Method and means are described for encoding and decoding stored units of data representing entity/relationship (E/R) data, function calls, and file data by including a prefix with each unit of data which includes a length code, an action code, and a unit identifier code. The data units with prefixes are organized into a data stream by using rules described in a formal grammar. The data stream will typically be transmitted to another program inside the computer or to another computer--host or PWS. When received the data stream is parsed back into data units by reversing the encoding process. After the data units are recovered the appropriate action is taken to process the units. E/R data is entered into or updated in a repository, function calls are passed on to an E/R repository function or other program along with the specified parameters for execution, and file data is stored in standard files. Generated output is captured, encoded into a data stream and transmitted back to requesting PWS which then parses the data stream to recover the output data.
29 Citations
15 Claims
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1. In a computer system having stored units of data, a computer implemented method comprising the steps of:
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(1) reading units of data from storage, each unit of data representing one of entity/relationship data, a function call, and file data; and (2) encoding all of said units of data using a common data format (CDF) according to formal CDF grammar rules to create a data stream comprising said encoded units of data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer system having stored units of data, comprising:
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means for reading units of data from storage, each unit of data representing one of entity/relationship data, a function call, and file data; and encoding means for encoding all of said units of data using a common data format (CDF) according to formal CDF grammar rules to create a data stream comprising said encoded units of data. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer system, comprising:
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(a) a host computer; and (b) a workstation computer coupled to said host computer, including (1) means for retrieving a first unit of data from a storage device connected to said workstation computer, said first unit of data comprising a function call to retrieve entity/relationship data from a storage device connected to said host computer, (2) means for creating a first encoded unit of data having a common data format (CDF) according to formal CDF grammar rules, said first unit of data being embedded in said first encoded unit of data, (3) transferring said first encoded unit of data from said workstation computer to said host computer; said host computer comprising (i) means for enabling said host computer to extract said first unit of data from said first encoded unit of data according to said formal CDF grammar rules, (ii) means for enabling said host computer to process said function call contained in said first unit of data such that said host computer retrieves a second unit of data comprising entity/relationship data from said storage device connected to said host computer, (iii) means for creating a second encoded unit of data having said common data format according to said formal CDF grammar rules, said second unit of data being embedded in said second encoded unit of data, and (iv) means for transferring said second encoded unit of data from said host computer to said workstation computer.
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15. A computer implemented method for enabling multiple computer systems to access entity/relationship data, function calls, and file data stored in any of said computer systems, comprising the steps of:
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(1) reading in one of said computer systems an unit of data from a storage device coupled to said one of said computer systems, said unit of data representing one of entity/relationship data, a function call, and file data; (2) creating in said one of said computer systems an encoded unit of data having a common data format (CDF) according to formal CDF grammar rules, said unit of data being embedded in said encoded unit of data; (3) transferring a data stream comprising said encoded unit of data from said one of said computer systems to another of said computer systems; (4) parsing said data stream, in said another of said computer systems, according to said formal CDF grammar rules to extract said unit of data from said data stream; and (5) processing said extracted unit of data in said another of said computer systems.
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Specification