Data processing method using record division storing scheme and apparatus therefor

• US 6,954,759 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 10/11/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Software Engineering Co., Ltd. (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Yamaguchi, Kota
• Primary Examiner(s): Coby, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cindy
• Application Number:
  US09/796,562
• Publication Number:
  US 20010007107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1, 707/100, 707/102, 711/114
• US Class Current: 711/101
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9024 Graphs; Linked lists G06F16/9027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A record having a fixed length data portion and a variable length data portion is stored in memory units, each capable of being inputted/outputted independently, in unit of sub-record while the fixed length data portion is divided into a plurality of fixed length sub-records each having the same length and the variable length data portion is made one variable length sub-record. When data operation of the record such as retrieval, update and deletion is required, sub-records necessary for the data operation are limited and the data operation is made in a unit of one or more sub-records, so that data processing of unnecessary sub-records is not made.

Claims

1. A data processing method in which a plurality of records, each including at least a plurality of fixed length data portions are divided and stored in a plurality of storage units, comprising:

dividing said fixed length data portion of each of said records into a plurality of fixed length sub-records having respective logical names;

storing said fixed length sub-records in a plurality of storage units such that said fixed length sub-records having a same logical name are stored in a same one of said storage units;

managing a storage situation of said storage units as file definition information collectively;

performing data processing of said record in a unit of sub-record with reference to said file definition information; and

inputting a query,

wherein, if one logical name is specified in the query, said fixed length sub-records having the specified logical name are read from the same storage unit.

2. A data processing method according to claim 1, wherein said step of performing includes the steps of:

determining at least one sub-record based on the query;

reading the at least one determined sub-record in a record from one of the storage units;

checking whether the at least one read sub-record meets the query; and

if the at least one read sub-record meets the query, reading other sub-records in the record from other of the storage units.

3. A data processing method in which a plurality of records, each including at least a plurality of fixed length data portions are divided and stored in a plurality of storage units comprising:

dividing said fixed length data portion of each of said records into a plurality of fixed length sub records having respective logical names;

storing said fixed length sub-records in a plurality of storage units such that said fixed length sub-records having a same logical name are stored in a same one of said storage units;

generating file definition information which correlates the sub records to the storage units;

accessing one of said sub-records with reference to said file definition information; and

performing data processing in accordance with the one sub-record; and

inputting a query,

wherein, if one logical name is specified in the query, said fixed length sub-records having the specified logical name are read from the same storage unit.

4. A data processing method according to claim 3, wherein said fixed length sub-records are stored in locations having the same physical address of said plurality of storage units.

5. A data processing method according to claim 3, wherein data processing of said record includes retrieval, update, addition, and deletion.

6. The data processing method of claim 3, wherein said fixed length sub-records are stored in the storage units at identical addresses thereof.

7. The data processing method according to claim 3, wherein said fixed length sub-records are stored in identical physical locations within respective ones of the storage units.

8. A data processing system in which a plurality of records, each including at least a plurality fixed length data portions are divided and stored in a plurality of storage units, comprising:

means for dividing said fixed length data portion of each of said records into a plurality of fixed length sub-records having respective logical names;

means for storing said fixed length sub-records in a plurality of storage units such that said fixed length sub-records records having a same logical name are stored in a same one of said storage units;

means for managing a storage situation of said storage units as file definition information collectively;

means for performing data processing of said record in a unit of sub-record with reference to said file definition information; and

means for inputting a query

wherein, if one logical name is specified in the query, said fixed length sub-records having the specified logical name are read from the same storage unit.

9. A data processing system according to claim 8, wherein said performing means includes:

means for determining at least one sub-record based on the query;

means for reading the at least one determined sub-record in a record from one of the storage units;

means for checking whether the at least one read sub-record meets the query; and

if the at least one read sub-record meets the query, reading other sub-records in the record from other storage units with said means for reading.

10. A data processing system in which a plurality of records, each including at least a plurality of fixed length data portions are divided and stored in a plurality of storage units comprising:

means for dividing said fixed length data portion of each of said records into a plurality of fixed length sub records;

means for storing said fixed length sub-records in a plurality of storage units such that said fixed length sub-records having a same logical name are stored in a same one of said storage units;

means for generating file definition information which correlates the sub records to the storage units;

means for accessing one of said sub-records with reference to said file definition information; and

means for performing data processing in accordance with the one sub-record; and

means for inputting a query,

wherein, if one logical name is specified in the qeury, said fixed length sub-records having the specified logical name are read from the same storage unit.

11. A data processing method according to claim 10, wherein said means for storing stores said fixed length sub-records are stored in locations having the same physical address of said plurality of storage units.

12. A data processing method according to claim 10, wherein data processing system of said record includes means for retrieval, update, addition, and deletion.

13. The data processing method of claim 10, wherein said means for storing stores said fixed length sub-records in the storage units at identical addresses thereof.

14. The data processing method according to claim 10, wherein said means for storing stores said fixed length sub-records in identical physical locations within respective storage units.