Database reconstruction using embedded database backup codes
First Claim
1. A method of storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, the method comprising:
- storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and
storing multiple frame markers, each including;
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; and
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Files are stored along with embedded codes containing information useful in reconstructing a failed database that normally contains information about the files. Multiple user files are stored in the form of a managed file, identified by a managed filename. Storage of the managed file includes a number of sub-steps, among them the generation and storage of a first frame marker including a recognition pattern, the managed filename, a next-frame locator, and a sequence number distinguishing the first frame marker from other frame markers. Next, a self-describing header is generated and stored adjacent to the first frame marker. A first one of the user files is stored adjacent to the self-describing header. The self-describing header and following user file are exclusively associated with each other, and the header contains certain information about the adjacent user file. Storage of the user file and self-describing header may be punctuated by one or more intermittent frame markers, which are preferably stored at fixed intervals along the managed file. The sequence of storing a self-describing header, a user file, and any intermittent frame markers is repeated until a predetermined condition is satisfied, such as reaching the last user file for inclusion in the managed file. Then, a table-of-contents is generated and stored substantially adjacent the last user file. A frame trailer is then stored substantially adjacent the table-of-contents, the frame trailer containing information representing the position of the table-of-contents. Another aspect of the invention concerns database reconstruction using information including the embedded codes.
-
Citations
52 Claims
-
1. A method of storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, the method comprising:
-
storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and storing multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; and wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of storing data, comprising:
-
(a) receiving multiple user files; (b) storing a first managed file, having a first managed filename, comprising; (1) generating and storing a first frame marker, the frame marker comprising; a predetermined recognition pattern; the first managed filename; a next-frame locator indicating a location of a second frame marker; and a sequence number of the first frame marker; (2) generating and storing a self-describing header including predetermined information about a next one of the user files; (3) storing the next user file and any intermittent frame markers that occur within the next user file in accordance with a prescribed frame marker pattern; (4) repeating steps (2) and (3) for each received user file received until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and thereupon; generating and storing a table-of-contents substantially adjacent a last one of the stored user files; and storing a frame trailer substantially adjacent the table-of-content, the frame trailer containing information representing a storage position of the table-of-contents.
-
-
8. A method for collecting information from source data stored on a recording medium for use in constructing a database describing the data;
-
where the source data comprises; multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; and a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents; the method comprising; locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern; finding the final frame marker by repeatedly; reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker; in response to finding the final frame marker; reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents; and positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, the method comprising:
-
storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and storing multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; and wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for storing data, the method comprising:
-
(a) receiving multiple user files; (b) storing a first managed file, having a first managed file name, comprising; (1) generating and storing a first frame marker, the frame marker comprising; a predetermined recognition pattern; the first managed filename; a next-frame locator indicating a location of a second frame marker; and a sequence number of the first frame marker; (2) generating and storing a self-describing header including predetermined information about a next one of the user files; (3) storing the next user file and any intermittent frame markers that occur within the next user file in accordance with a prescribed frame marker pattern; (4) repeating steps (2) and (3) for each received user file received until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and thereupon; generating and storing a table-of-contents substantially adjacent a last one of the stored user files; and storing a frame trailer substantially adjacent the table-of-content, the frame trailer containing information representing a storage position of the table-of-contents.
-
-
19. A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for collecting self-describing information from source data stored on a recording medium for use in constructing a database describing the data, where the source data comprises:
-
multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; and a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents; the method comprising; locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern; finding the final frame marker by repeatedly; reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker; in response to finding the final frame marker; reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents; and positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
-
a data storage; a digital data processor, programmed to perform a method of storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, the method comprising; storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and storing multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; and wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
-
-
29. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
-
a data storage; a digital data processor, programmed to perform a method of storing data, the method comprising; (a) receiving multiple user files; (b) storing a first managed file, having a first managed filename, comprising; (1) generating and storing a first frame marker, the frame marker comprising; a predetermined recognition pattern; the first managed filename; a next-frame locator indicating a location of a second frame marker; and a sequence number of the first frame marker; (2) generating and storing a self-describing header including predetermined information about a next one of the user files; (3) storing the next user file and any intermittent frame markers that occur within the next user file in accordance with a prescribed frame marker pattern; (4) repeating steps (2) and (3) for each received user file received until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and thereupon; generating and storing a table-of-contents substantially adjacent a last one of the stored user files; and storing a frame trailer substantially adjacent the table-of-content, the frame trailer containing information representing a storage position of the table-of-contents.
-
-
30. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
-
a data storage containing source data, including; multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; and a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position the table-of-contents; the method comprising; locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern; finding the final frame marker by repeatedly; reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker; in response to finding the final frame marker; reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents; and positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
-
a data storage means; a digital data processing means for storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, by; storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and storing multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; and wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents.
-
-
35. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
-
a data storage means; a digital data processing means for storing data, by; (a) receiving multiple user files; (b) storing a first managed file, having a first managed filename, comprising; (1) generating and storing a first frame marker, the frame marker comprising; a predetermined recognition pattern; the first managed filename; a next-frame locator indicating a location of a second frame marker; and a sequence number of the first frame marker; (2) generating and storing a self-describing header including predetermined information about a next one of the user files; (3) storing the next user file and any intermittent frame markers that occur within the next user file in accordance with a prescribed frame marker pattern; (4) repeating steps (2) and (3) for each received user file received until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and thereupon; generating and storing a table-of-contents substantially adjacent a last one of the stored user files; and storing a frame trailer substantially adjacent the table-of-content, the frame trailer containing information representing a storage position of the table-of-contents.
-
-
36. A data storage subsystem, comprising:
-
a means for storing source data that includes; multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files the, table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; and a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents; the method comprising; locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern; finding the final frame marker by repeatedly; reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker; in response to finding the final frame marker; reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents; and positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers. - View Dependent Claims (37)
-
-
38. An article of manufacture comprising:
-
a data storage medium; machine-readable digital data tangibly embodied by the data storage medium the data including; a managed file, having a managed filename, the managed file comprising multiple user files stored in a substantially contiguous arrangement; multiple self-describing headers each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and multiple frame markers, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; and wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
-
-
46. An article of manufacture, prepared by a process comprising:
-
forming a digital data storage medium; storing multiple user files upon the medium in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename; storing multiple self-describing headers upon the medium, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file; storing a table-of-contents upon the medium following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers; and storing multiple frame markers upon the medium, each including; a predetermined recognition pattern; the managed filename; and a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename; a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker; wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement; and wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
-
-
52. An article of manufacture, prepared by a process comprising:
-
forming a digital data storage medium; storing data on the medium, comprising; (a) receiving multiple user files; (b) storing a first managed file, having a first managed filename, comprising; (1) generating and storing a first frame marker, the frame marker comprising; a predetermined recognition pattern; the first managed filename; a next-frame locator indicating a location of a second frame marker; and a sequence number of the first frame marker; (2) generating and storing a self-describing header including predetermined information about a next one of the user files; (3) storing the next user file and any intermittent frame markers that occur within the next user file in accordance with a prescribed frame marker pattern; (4) repeating steps (2) and (3) for each received user file received until a predetermined condition is satisfied, and thereupon; generating and storing a table-of-contents substantially adjacent a last one of the stored user files; and storing a frame trailer substantialiy adjacent the table-of-content, the frame trailer containing information representing a storage position of the table-of-contents.
-
Specification