US3702010A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Information retrieval strategy
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1970-10-12
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Granted: 1972-10-31
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Expires: 1990-10-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for retrieving variable length file listings from a file of listings is disclosed. Each listing in the file is identified as belonging to one of the plurality of classes of listings comprising the file by means of a fixed length class byte in the listing format. The length of each listing is recorded in a similar fashion in the listing format. A computer program containing a matching subroutine for each class of listing contained in the file controls a stored program computer during a search of the file. During such a search, the computer accesses the class byte in the current listing being processed and uses this byte to determine the address of the matching subroutine to be used in processing the listing. Similarly, the computer uses the length byte in the current listing to calculate the address of the listing to be processed after processing of the current listing is completed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert Benjamin Schmidt
- 👤 George Wallace Smith Jr
- 👤 Robert Bernard Walford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 12:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F9/00; G06F9/06; G06F9/44; G06F9/448; G06F9/4482; G06F9/4484; G06F16/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 62
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
The machine method of retrieving a listing from a file comprised of listings whose formats include selected control information in addition to descriptor information which comprises the steps of; 1. specifying selected retrieval criteria; 2. accessing the control information in a first listing selectively determined by said retrieval criteria; and 3. altering the operation of said machine in further processing said listing in accordance with a selected portion of the accessed control information.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
The machine method of retrieving a listing from a file comprised of listings whose formats include selected control information in addition to descriptor information which comprises the steps of; 1. specifying selected retrieval criteria; 2. accessing the control information in a first listing selectively determined by said retrieval criteria; and 3. altering the operation of said machine in further processing said listing in accordance with a selected portion of the accessed control information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
accessing the control information in a first listing selectively determined by said retrieval criteria; and
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
accessing the control information in a first listing selectively determined by said retrieval criteria; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
5 words
storing user specified retrieval criteria;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
5 words
storing user specified retrieval criteria;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
accessing the class indicator in the format of a current listing with characteristics satisfying a selected portion of said retrieval criteria;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
accessing the class indicator in the format of a current listing with characteristics satisfying a selected portion of said retrieval criteria;
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
accessing the class indicator in the format of a listing with characteristics satisfying a selected portion of said retrieval criteria; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
accessing the class indicator in the format of a listing with characteristics satisfying a selected portion of said retrieval criteria; and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
transferring all listings in said file unit having characteristics satisfying a selected portion of said retrieval criteria into the computer memory;
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
transferring all listings in said file unit having characteristics satisfying a selected portion of said retrieval criteria into the computer memory;
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
selecting a strategy of machine operation identified by said class indicator for determining if the characteristics of said listing satisfy all of said retrieval criteria.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
selecting a strategy of machine operation identified by said class indicator for determining if the characteristics of said listing satisfy all of said retrieval criteria.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
transferring listings having selected descriptors in their formats that match a selected portion of said retrieval criteria from said file into a selected portion of the computer memory;
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
transferring listings having selected descriptors in their formats that match a selected portion of said retrieval criteria from said file into a selected portion of the computer memory;
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
accessing the class indicator in the format of a selected listing in said memory;
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
accessing the class indicator in the format of a selected listing in said memory;
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
altering the operation of said machine in further processing said listing in accordance with a selected portion of the accessed control information.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
altering the operation of said machine in further processing said listing in accordance with a selected portion of the accessed control information.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
accessing the listing length indicator in the format of said current listing;
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
accessing the listing length indicator in the format of said current listing;
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine method of retrieving a selected listing from a peripheral file unit containing listings whose formats include a listing class indicator comprising the steps of;
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
The machine method of retrieving a selected listing from a peripheral file unit containing listings whose formats include a listing class indicator comprising the steps of;
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
determining the address of the second listing to be processed from a selected portion of said control information accessed from said first listing; and
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
determining the address of the second listing to be processed from a selected portion of said control information accessed from said first listing; and
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
14 words
accessing the class byte in the format of a selected listing in said memory;
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
accessing the class byte in the format of a selected listing in said memory;
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine method of retrieving a selected listing from a peripheral file unit containing variable length listings whose formats include a fixed length listing class indicator and listing length indicator, comprising the steps of;
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The machine method of retrieving a selected listing from a peripheral file unit containing variable length listings whose formats include a fixed length listing class indicator and listing length indicator, comprising the steps of;
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
25 words
calculating the address of one of a plurality of memory locations containing addresses of matching subroutines stored in said memory with said class indicator; and
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
25 words
calculating the address of one of a plurality of memory locations containing addresses of matching subroutines stored in said memory with said class indicator; and
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
22 words
determining the beginning address of the next listing to be processed from said listing length indicator accessed from said current listing; and
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
determining the beginning address of the next listing to be processed from said listing length indicator accessed from said current listing; and
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer method of retrieving a selected listing, under program control, from a peripheral file unit containing listings whose formats include a listing class indicator comprising the steps of;
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer method of retrieving a selected listing, under program control, from a peripheral file unit containing listings whose formats include a listing class indicator comprising the steps of;
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
31 words
selecting a strategy of machine operation identified by said class indicator Accessed from said current listing for determining if the characteristics of said current listing satisfy all of said retrieval criteria.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
selecting a strategy of machine operation identified by said class indicator Accessed from said current listing for determining if the characteristics of said current listing satisfy all of said retrieval criteria.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
8 words
calling the matching subroutine identified by said address.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
8 words
calling the matching subroutine identified by said address.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
accessing the length byte in the format of said selected listing;
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
11 words
accessing the length byte in the format of said selected listing;
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
21 words
accessing the control information in the second listing identified by said address after the processing of said first listing is completed.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
accessing the control information in the second listing identified by said address after the processing of said first listing is completed.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
22 words
translating said class byte into the address of a memory location containing the address of a selected one of said matching subroutines;
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
22 words
translating said class byte into the address of a memory location containing the address of a selected one of said matching subroutines;
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
12 words
accessing the length indicator in the format of said selected listing; and
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
12 words
accessing the length indicator in the format of said selected listing; and
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the formats of said listings in said file are of variable length and include a listing length indicator wherein step (3) further comprises the steps of;
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
21 words
determining from said length indicator the address of the listing to be processed after processing of said selected listing is complete.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
21 words
determining from said length indicator the address of the listing to be processed after processing of said selected listing is complete.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
22 words
translating said length byte into the address of the listing to be processed after processing of said selected listing has been processed;
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
22 words
translating said length byte into the address of the listing to be processed after processing of said selected listing has been processed;
Claim 55
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of operating a computer with a computer program stored in its memory which program includes a program main flow and a plurality of matching subroutines for retrieving selected listings from a peripheral file unit containing listings with listing class bytes and listing length bytes in their formats in addition to descriptors, the method being comprised of the steps of;
Claim 56
Independent Claim
61 words
A method of operating a computer with a computer program stored in its memory which program includes a program main flow and a plurality of matching subroutines for retrieving selected listings from a peripheral file unit containing listings with listing class bytes and listing length bytes in their formats in addition to descriptors, the method being comprised of the steps of;
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
25 words
indirectly addressing the subroutine identified with said address obtained in step (6) for processing said selected listing by matching its descriptors against said retrieval criteria;
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
25 words
indirectly addressing the subroutine identified with said address obtained in step (6) for processing said selected listing by matching its descriptors against said retrieval criteria;
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
20 words
returning control of said computer to said program main flow after processing of said selected listing has been completed; and
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
20 words
returning control of said computer to said program main flow after processing of said selected listing has been completed; and
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
12 words
accessing the listing identified by the listing address obtained in step (7).
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
12 words
accessing the listing identified by the listing address obtained in step (7).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-31 | 1976-05-01 | 1976-10-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-31 | 1980-05-01 | 1980-10-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-31 | 1984-05-01 | 1984-10-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |