Method for packing variable size user data records into fixed size blocks on a storage medium
First Claim
1. A method for packing user data records into physical blocks of predetermined storage capacity defined on a storage medium comprising:
- receiving user data record of variable lengths;
building a map field of record packing information for each one of the physical blocks;
formatting the user data record and map field of record packing information into the physical blocks, the step of formatting comprising the steps of;
creating a plurality of variable length data pages from the user data record;
building a map entry of record packing information within the map field for each of the plurality of data pages; and
storing each one of the plurality of data pages and the map entry for each one of the plurality of data pages within the physical block, the step of storing each one of the plurality of data pages and the map entry comprising the step of;
arranging the data pages in consecutive order within the physical block and arranging the map entries in reverse order within the physical block;
grouping a fixed number of said physical blocks in groups to define logical blocks,grouping a fixed number of said logical blocks in groups to define entities on the storage medium; and
storing said entities on the storage medium.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and an apparatus for packing variable size user data records into fixed size blocks on a storage medium. The invention includes the steps of receiving user data of variable record lengths along with error detection information; creating a data page for each user data record; building a map entry of record packing information for each data page; and storing each data page and its associated map within the same physical record on a storage medium. The data pages being stored in consecutive order and the map entries are stored in reverse order. A predetermined number of physical blocks are combined to form a logical block and a predetermined number of logical blocks form an entity.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for packing user data records into physical blocks of predetermined storage capacity defined on a storage medium comprising:
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receiving user data record of variable lengths; building a map field of record packing information for each one of the physical blocks; formatting the user data record and map field of record packing information into the physical blocks, the step of formatting comprising the steps of; creating a plurality of variable length data pages from the user data record; building a map entry of record packing information within the map field for each of the plurality of data pages; and storing each one of the plurality of data pages and the map entry for each one of the plurality of data pages within the physical block, the step of storing each one of the plurality of data pages and the map entry comprising the step of; arranging the data pages in consecutive order within the physical block and arranging the map entries in reverse order within the physical block; grouping a fixed number of said physical blocks in groups to define logical blocks, grouping a fixed number of said logical blocks in groups to define entities on the storage medium; and storing said entities on the storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for storage of user data records on a medium, said medium comprising:
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at least one user data record entity;
said entity comprising a fixed number of groups of logical blocks;
each block of said group of logical blocks comprising a fixed number of physical blocks of predetermined fixed size;
each physical block of said plurality of physical blocks further comprising;a plurality of variable length data pages; a map field comprising a variable number of map entries of record packing information, there being a separate map entry for each data page of said plurality of data pages; a control field comprising control entries of information relating a logical position of the physical block to other physical blocks on the medium; and the data pages are arranged in consecutive order within the physical block and the map entries are arranged in reverse order within the physical block. - View Dependent Claims (6, 8, 9, 10)
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7. The system for data storage of user data records on a medium set forth in 5 wherein said logical block comprises two physical blocks contiguously arranged on the medium.
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11. In a data storage and retrieval system including a controller and a recording and playback mechanism containing a data storage medium, a method of packing variable size user data records into fixed size physical blocks on the storage medium, comprising the steps of:
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receiving the variable size user data records into the data storage and retrieval system; defining at least one data page within a fixed size block for each user data record, a number of data pages being defined as based on size of the user data record; building a map entry of record packing information for each data page defined within the fixed size block; storing each data page and the map entry for the data page within the fixed size block on the storage medium, the step of storing comprising the step of; arranging the data pages in consecutive order within the fixed physical block and arranging the map entries in reverse order within the fixed physical block; building a control field of block information for relating user data record information stored in the fixed size block to other fixed size blocks on the storage medium; storing each control field within the fixed size block on the storage medium; grouping a fixed number of said fixed size physical blocks in groups, each group defining a logical block; grouping a fixed number of said logical blocks in groups, each group defining an entity; and storing said entities on the storage medium. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification