Associative database scanning and information retrieval
First Claim
1. A data processing system comprising:
- a mass storage medium in which data is stored; and
an approximate matching unit processor in communication with the mass storage medium, wherein the approximate matching unit processor is configured to (1) receive a continuous stream of data from the mass storage medium, and (2) process the data stream to determine whether an approximate match exists via a comparison between the key and the data stream, wherein the approximate matching unit processor is further configured to perform the comparison by calculating a correlation coefficient that is indicative of a degree of correlation between the key and the data stream, and wherein the approximate matching unit processor is further configured to determine that an approximate match exists if the correlation coefficient has a value larger than or at least equal to a predetermined threshold value.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and device are disclosed for an associative and approximate, analog or digital scanning of databases that allows for the asynchronous accessing of data from a mass storage medium. The invention includes providing dedicated analog and digital circuitry and decision logic at the mass storage medium level for determining a key identifying the data of interest, continuously comparing the key to a signal generated from a reading of the data from the mass storage medium with an approximate or exact matching circuit to determine a pattern match, determining a correlation value between the key and the data as it is read in a continuous fashion, and determining a match based upon a preselected threshold value for the correlation value. The pattern matching technique eliminates any need to compare data based on its intrinsic structure or value, and instead is based on an analog or digital pattern. The key and data may be either analog or digital. This device and method may be provided as part of a stand-alone computer system, embodied in a network attached storage device, or can otherwise be provided as part of a computer LAN or WAN.
243 Citations
48 Claims
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1. A data processing system comprising:
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a mass storage medium in which data is stored; and an approximate matching unit processor in communication with the mass storage medium, wherein the approximate matching unit processor is configured to (1) receive a continuous stream of data from the mass storage medium, and (2) process the data stream to determine whether an approximate match exists via a comparison between the key and the data stream, wherein the approximate matching unit processor is further configured to perform the comparison by calculating a correlation coefficient that is indicative of a degree of correlation between the key and the data stream, and wherein the approximate matching unit processor is further configured to determine that an approximate match exists if the correlation coefficient has a value larger than or at least equal to a predetermined threshold value. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A device for processing data from a mass storage medium to identify data of interest therein, said device comprising:
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an approximate matching unit processor that is configured to perform a comparison between a data signal representative of a continuous stream of data read from a mass storage medium and a determined key representative of the data of interest, and wherein said approximate matching unit processor is further configured to perform said comparison by computing a correlation coefficient between said data key and said data signal, and wherein said approximate matching unit processor is further configured to compare said computed correlation coefficient with a predetermined threshold value to thereby determine whether an approximate match exists between said data key and said data signal. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A method for processing data, said method comprising:
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receiving a search command from a processor for searching data stored in a mass storage medium to determine whether any data of interest is located therein, determining a key from the search command, wherein the key is representative of the data of interest, making a comparison between said key and a data signal representative of a continuous stream of data read from said mass storage medium, determining, in response to said comparison, which data within said data signal matches said key; and wherein said comparison making step comprises computing a correlation coefficient between said key and said data signal, and wherein said match determining step comprises comparing said computed correlation coefficient with a predetermined threshold value to thereby determine whether a match exists between said data key and said data signal. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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Specification