Databank system with methods for efficiently storing non-uniform data records
First Claim
1. In a computer system for storing and manipulating user information, said user information being stored in a plurality of data records, each data record comprising a plurality of data fields, each data field for storing a particular type of information, at least one of said data records having a set of data fields which is different than data fields of another of said data records, a method for efficiently storing dissimilar ones of said data records, the method comprising:
- (a) creating a descriptor table storing an entry characterizing the data fields of each type of said data records; and
(b) storing each of said data records as a databank record in a single database table, said databank table comprising;
(i) a set of static fields storing information for characterizing each of said data records, regardless of the particular type of data fields which comprise a given record; and
(ii) a single dynamic field having a plurality of contiguous logical fields, each logical field storing information from a data field of said at least one data record which is different from another of said data records, so that said databank table stores all said data records regardless of differences in types of data fields between individual ones of said data records.
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Accused Products
Abstract
System and methods are described for efficient storage and processing of non-uniform data records. An exemplary embodiment includes a Databank system having a Database Engine, a Database Engine API (Application Program Interface), a Databank Engine, a Databank Engine Class Interface, and a Databank (storage). The Databank storage itself comprises a Descriptor Table (Form Definition) and a Data Repository. The Descriptor Table comprises a plurality of field descriptors for characterizing user information stored in the Databank. The Data Repository, on the other hand, stores the actual data from the non-uniform data records. It comprises "static" fields and a "dynamic" field. The static fields store core fields necessary for characterizing each data record (irrespective of what type of information a given data record stores). User data are stored in a structured, pre-defined manner using logical fields (or "subfields") of the dynamic field. The system correctly interprets the dynamic contents based on the information stored in the descriptors. Methods are described for storing and retrieving information from the Databank in a manner which is transparent to clients, thus allowing the Databank subsystem to easily replace existing storage subsystems.
344 Citations
29 Claims
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1. In a computer system for storing and manipulating user information, said user information being stored in a plurality of data records, each data record comprising a plurality of data fields, each data field for storing a particular type of information, at least one of said data records having a set of data fields which is different than data fields of another of said data records, a method for efficiently storing dissimilar ones of said data records, the method comprising:
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(a) creating a descriptor table storing an entry characterizing the data fields of each type of said data records; and (b) storing each of said data records as a databank record in a single database table, said databank table comprising; (i) a set of static fields storing information for characterizing each of said data records, regardless of the particular type of data fields which comprise a given record; and (ii) a single dynamic field having a plurality of contiguous logical fields, each logical field storing information from a data field of said at least one data record which is different from another of said data records, so that said databank table stores all said data records regardless of differences in types of data fields between individual ones of said data records. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a data processing system for storing and processing a plurality of non-uniform data records storing information, each data record comprising a plurality of data fields, an improved method for providing access to the information of said non-uniform data records, the method comprising;
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(a) storing in a single data record information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records together in a single free-form field of a single database table; (b) storing a set of field descriptors for describing how to interpret the single data record stored for each of said non-uniform data records, wherein said field descriptors provide access to the information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records; and wherein said free-form field comprises a dBASE-compatible memo field.
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23. In a data processing system for storing and processing a plurality of non-uniform data records storing information, each data record comprising a plurality of data fields, an improved method for providing access to the information of said non-uniform data records, the method comprising:
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(a) storing in a single data record information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records together in a single free-form field of a single database table; (c) storing a set of field descriptors for describing how to interpret the single data record stored for each of said non-uniform data records, wherein said field descriptors provide access to the information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records; and wherein step (a) includes storing contiguously information from each of said plurality of non-uniform data records as a delimited logical field in said free-form field.
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24. In a data processing system for storing and processing a plurality of non-uniform data records storing information, each data record comprising a plurality of data fields, an improved method for providing access to the information of said non-uniform data records, the method comprising:
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(a) storing in a single data record information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records together in a single free-form field of a single database table; (b) storing a set of field descriptors for describing how to interpret the single data record stored for each of said non-uniform data records, wherein said field descriptors provide access to the information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records; and wherein step (a) includes storing information from each of said plurality of non-uniform data records in said free-form field as a logical field having a general format of;
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field name>
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field value>
.25. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. In a data processing system for storing and processing a plurality of non-uniform data records storing information;
- each data record comprising a plurality of data fields, an improved method for providing access to the information of said non-uniform data records, the method comprising;
(a) storing in a single data record information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records together in a single free-form field of a single database table; (b) storing a set of field descriptors for describing how to interpret the single data record stored for each of said non-uniform data records, wherein said field descriptors provide access to the information from the data fields of each of said non-uniform data records; and wherein step (c) includes storing in said data fields associated with said free-form field a cross-reference to another data record. - View Dependent Claims (29)
- each data record comprising a plurality of data fields, an improved method for providing access to the information of said non-uniform data records, the method comprising;
Specification