US3623018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mechanism for searching for selected records in random access storage devices of a data processing system
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1969-11-12
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Granted: 1971-11-23
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Expires: 1989-11-12
Abstract
Abstract A mechanism is disclosed for making complex record searches in random access storage devices. A plurality of parameter values, for example, the department number, age, years of service, are each compared in succession with upper and lower limit parameter values. The parameter values are found in each record by the use of a beginning address of the byte in the record at which the parameter value begins and by a byte count value which is equal to the number of bytes required to define the parameter. A plurality of logical operators associated with each parameter define combinations of parameter tests which must be met in order to satisfy the search criteria.
Inventors
- 👤 James R Evans
- 👤 John W Roossien
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/90; G06F16/903; G06F16/90335; G06F16/90344; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
282 words
In apparatus of the type in which a central processing unit is operated in accordance with a stored program, in which a random access storage device has data records stored in a plurality of storage locations therein and in which a control unit is provided for transferring records between the storage device and the processing unit in accordance with instructions in the program, the combination therewith of means to search for records transferred from the random access storage device, portions of which records satisfy one or more search argument combinations, comprising a first means in the control unit for storing parameter table data entries, each entry including an identifying tag, upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, a beginning address value corresponding to the beginning address of the parameter in each record being searched, data corresponding to the length of the parameter field and logical operator bits corresponding to tests to be applied to record parameters being searched to determine whether or not they satisfy at least one of a predetermined number of selected search argument combinations, means in the control unit for comparing each parameter value of a transferred record with its corresponding stored upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, means in the control unit controlled in accordance with the tags for storing the results of each parameter value comparison, means in the control unit controlled by the logical operator values for making a sequence of tests on the stored results to determine whether or not selected search argument combinations have been satisfied, and means for effecting transfer of a record in the central prOcessing unit when it satisfies at least one of the selected search argument combinations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
282 words
In apparatus of the type in which a central processing unit is operated in accordance with a stored program, in which a random access storage device has data records stored in a plurality of storage locations therein and in which a control unit is provided for transferring records between the storage device and the processing unit in accordance with instructions in the program, the combination therewith of means to search for records transferred from the random access storage device, portions of which records satisfy one or more search argument combinations, comprising a first means in the control unit for storing parameter table data entries, each entry including an identifying tag, upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, a beginning address value corresponding to the beginning address of the parameter in each record being searched, data corresponding to the length of the parameter field and logical operator bits corresponding to tests to be applied to record parameters being searched to determine whether or not they satisfy at least one of a predetermined number of selected search argument combinations, means in the control unit for comparing each parameter value of a transferred record with its corresponding stored upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, means in the control unit controlled in accordance with the tags for storing the results of each parameter value comparison, means in the control unit controlled by the logical operator values for making a sequence of tests on the stored results to determine whether or not selected search argument combinations have been satisfied, and means for effecting transfer of a record in the central prOcessing unit when it satisfies at least one of the selected search argument combinations.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein an addressable buffer storage device having a buffer address register is provided in the control unit for receiving the records read from the random access device and for storing the records in an allocated section thereof until said sequence of tests is performed on the stored results of the parameter value comparisons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 2 together with additional means controlled in accordance with the buffer address register values, the beginning address values and the parameter length data for rendering the comparing means effective only while parameter values are being read from the random access storage device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
133 words
The apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said additional means comprises a start address register, means for entering into the start address register values corresponding to the addresses of the buffer positions at which the first byte of each parameter is stored, means responsive to the values in the buffer address register and in the start address register for rendering the comparing means effective when each parameter is transferred from the random access storage device to the buffer, a decrementing counter for receiving the data corresponding to the parameter field length, means decrementing the counter as each byte of a parameter is transferred from the random access storage device to the buffer, and means including the counter for rendering the comparing means ineffective after each parameter has been transferred to the buffer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
241 words
In apparatus of the type in which a random access storage device has data records stored in a plurality of storage locations therein and in which means are provided for transferring records between the storage device and an output unit the combination therewith of means to search for records transferred from the random access storage device portions of which satisfy a plurality of search arguments, comprising a first means for storing parameter table data entries, each entry including an identifying tag, upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, a beginning address value corresponding to the beginning address of the parameter in each record being searched, data corresponding to the length of the parameter field and logical operator bits corresponding to tests to be applied to record parameters being searched to determine whether or not they satisfy at least one of a predetermined number of selected search argument combinations, means for comparing each parameter value of a transferred record with its corresponding stored upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, means controlled in accordance with the tags for storing the results of each parameter value comparison, means controlled by the logical operator values for making a sequence of tests on the stored results to determine whether or not selected search argument combinations have been satisfied, and means for effecting transfer of a record to the output unit only when it satisfies at least one of the selected search argument combinations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
241 words
In apparatus of the type in which a random access storage device has data records stored in a plurality of storage locations therein and in which means are provided for transferring records between the storage device and an output unit the combination therewith of means to search for records transferred from the random access storage device portions of which satisfy a plurality of search arguments, comprising a first means for storing parameter table data entries, each entry including an identifying tag, upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, a beginning address value corresponding to the beginning address of the parameter in each record being searched, data corresponding to the length of the parameter field and logical operator bits corresponding to tests to be applied to record parameters being searched to determine whether or not they satisfy at least one of a predetermined number of selected search argument combinations, means for comparing each parameter value of a transferred record with its corresponding stored upper and lower limit parameter search argument values, means controlled in accordance with the tags for storing the results of each parameter value comparison, means controlled by the logical operator values for making a sequence of tests on the stored results to determine whether or not selected search argument combinations have been satisfied, and means for effecting transfer of a record to the output unit only when it satisfies at least one of the selected search argument combinations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-11-22 | 1975-05-24 | 1975-11-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-11-22 | 1979-05-24 | 1979-11-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-11-22 | 1983-05-24 | 1983-11-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |