System and method for disk mapping and data retrieval
DCFirst Claim
1. Apparatus for retrieving a requested variable-length data record stored on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:
- means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion;
means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming and storing said plurality of variable-length data records on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium;
means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the location of each of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium;
memory storage means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices and the associated record identification portions in a record locator table;
means for requesting access to said requested variable-length data record, and for providing the record identification portion corresponding to said requested variable-length data record;
means, responsive to said means for requesting access, for searching said record locator table stored in said memory storage means, for locating an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; and
record retrieval means, responsive to said means for searching, for retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for disk mapping and data retrieval includes a data storage medium on which has been stored a plurality of data records. Each record includes at least a record identification portion, for uniquely identifying each record from among the plurality of data records. The apparatus builds a record locator table in high speed semiconductor memory which comprises the unique record identifiers for the records on the storage medium as well as a record locator index generated by the apparatus, which indicates the address of the data record on the storage medium. Data retrieval is facilitated by first searching the record locator table in high speed semiconductor memory for a requested data record. Utilizing the record locator index associated with the reqested data record, the system directly accesses the requested data record on the storage medium thereby minimizing storage medium search time. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method for converting CKD formatted data records to FBA formatted disk drives and for building and compressing the "count" portion of the CKD data formatted record into a record locator table.
91 Citations
83 Claims
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1. Apparatus for retrieving a requested variable-length data record stored on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming and storing said plurality of variable-length data records on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the location of each of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; memory storage means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices and the associated record identification portions in a record locator table; means for requesting access to said requested variable-length data record, and for providing the record identification portion corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; means, responsive to said means for requesting access, for searching said record locator table stored in said memory storage means, for locating an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; and record retrieval means, responsive to said means for searching, for retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for transforming and storing variable-length data records onto at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium, and for retrieving a requested data record stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; storing to said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, said plurality of variable-length data records, said step of storing including; transforming said plurality of variable-length data records to an FBA format, and storing the plurality of data records in the FBA format on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; generating a plurality of record locator indices;
each of the plurality of record locator indices corresponding to one of the plurality of data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the plurality of data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium;forming a record locator table including the plurality of the record locator indices and record identification portions; and storing said record locator table in memory; searching said record locator table stored in memory, for locating one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record; and retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, said requested data record as directed by said one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for transforming and storing variable-length CKD formatted data records onto one or more fixed block architecture (FBA) disk drives, and for retrieving a requested data record stored on one or more of said fixed block architecture disk drives, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records, each of said variable-length CKD formatted data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; storing to said one or more fixed block architecture (FBA) disk drives, said plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records, said step of storing including; transforming said plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records from a CKD format to an FBA format, and storing the plurality of data records in the FBA format on said one or more FBA disk drives; generating a plurality of record locator indices;
each of the plurality of record locator indices corresponding to one of the plurality of data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the plurality of data records stored on said one or more FBA disk drives;forming a record locator table including the plurality of the record locator indices and record identification portions; and storing said record locator table in memory; searching said record locator table stored in memory, for locating one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record; and retrieving from said one or more FBA disk drives, said requested data record as directed by said one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. Apparatus for retrieving a requested variable-length data record stored on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records; means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming and storing said plurality of variable-length data records on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; mapping means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices in a record locator table, and in response to a request for access to said-requested variable-length data record, for searching said record locator table for obtaining an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; and record retrieval means for retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for transforming and storing variable-length data records onto a fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium, and for retrieving a requested data record stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of variable-length data records;
storing to said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, said plurality of variable-length data records, said step of storing including;transforming said plurality of variable-length data records to an FBA format, and storing the plurality of data records in the FBA format on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; generating a plurality of record locator indices;
each of the plurality of record locator indices corresponding to one of the plurality of data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the plurality of data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; andforming a record locator table including the plurality of the record locator indices; searching said record locator table, for locating one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record; and retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, said requested data record as directed by said one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28)
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29. Apparatus for transforming, storing, and mapping variable-length data records on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming and storing said plurality of variable-length data records on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the location of each of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; and memory storage means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices and the associated record identification portions in a record locator table. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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33. Apparatus for retrieving data stored on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium, said at least one FBA formatted storage medium including a plurality of fixed-length blocks of storage locations, said apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transferring and storing the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium by aligning a beginning of each of the data portions on a respective one of said fixed-length blocks of storage locations; means, responsive to said means for transferring and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the respective one of the fixed-length blocks of storage locations on which is aligned the beginning of the data portion of said one of said plurality of variable-length data records; memory storage means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices and the associated record identification portions in a record locator table; means for requesting access to a requested variable-length data record, and for providing the record identification portion corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; means, responsive to said means for requesting access, for searching said record locator table stored in said memory storage means, for locating an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; and record data retrieval means, responsive to said means for searching, for retrieving from said FBA formatted storage medium the data portion of said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. Apparatus for retrieving data stored on fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium, the FBA formatted storage medium including a plurality of fixed-length blocks of storage locations, said apparatus comprising:
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a data record receiver for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; a data record storer, responsive to the data record receiver, for transferring and storing the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records on said FBA formatted storage medium by aligning a beginning of each of the data portions on a respective one of said fixed-length blocks of storage locations; a record locator index generator, responsive to said data record storer, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the respective one of the fixed-length blocks of storage locations on which is aligned the beginning of the data portion of said one of said plurality of variable-length data records; memory storage, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices and the associated record identification portions in a record locator table; a data record access requester, for requesting access to a requested variable-length data record, and for providing the record identification portion corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; a record locator table searcher, responsive to said data record access requester, for searching said record locator table stored in said memory storage, for locating an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; and a record data retriever, responsive to said record locator table searcher, for retrieving from said FBA formatted storage medium the data portion of said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A method of retrieving data stored on fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium, the FBA formatted storage medium including a plurality of fixed-length blocks of storage locations, said method including the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; transferring and storing the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records on said FBA formatted storage medium by aligning a beginning of each of the data portions on a respective one of said fixed-length blocks of storage locations; generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the respective one of the fixed-length blocks of storage locations on-which is aligned the beginning of the data portion of said one of said plurality of variable-length data records; storing at least said plurality of record locator indices and the associated record identification portions in a record locator table; requesting access to a requested variable-length data record, and for providing the record identification portion corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; searching said record locator table, for locating an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; and retrieving from said FBA formatted storage medium the data portion of said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. Apparatus for retrieving data stored on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:
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means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming and storing at least the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; memory storage means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices in a record locator data structure, the record locator indices being stored at locations different from the locations of the data portions of their associated variable-length data records; means for requesting access to a requested variable-length data record, and for providing the record identification portion corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; means, responsive to said means for requesting access, for searching said record locator data structure stored in said memory storage means, for locating an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record; and record retrieval means, responsive to said means for searching, for retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium at least the data portion of said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record. - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A method for storing and retrieving data stored on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium, said method comprising:
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receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; storing to said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, at least the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records, said storing including; transforming at least said data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records to an FBA format, and storing at least said data portions of said plurality of data records in the FBA format on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; generating a plurality of record locator indices;
each of the plurality of record locator indices corresponding to one of the plurality of data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the data portions of said plurality of data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium;forming a record locator data structure including the plurality of the record locator indices, the record locator data structure being stored in memory at a location different from the location of the data portions of the plurality of data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; searching said record locator data structure stored in memory, for locating one of the record locator indices corresponding to a requested data record; and retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium, at least the data portion of said requested data record as directed by said one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75)
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76. Apparatus for retrieving data stored on at least one fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:
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a data record receiver, for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion; a data record storer, responsive to the data record receiver, for transforming and storing at least the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; a record locator index generator, responsive to said data record storer, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the data portions of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said at least one FBA formatted storage medium; memory storage, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices in a record locator data structure, the record locator indices being stored at locations different from the locations of the data portions of their associated variable-length data records; a record locator index searcher, responsive to a request for at least the data portion of a requested variable-length data record, for searching said record locator data structure stored in said memory storage means, for locating an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to the requested variable-length data record; and a data retriever, responsive to said record locator index searcher, for retrieving from said at least one FBA formatted storage medium at least the data portion of said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record. - View Dependent Claims (77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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Specification