Search processing apparatus

Claim 2

An improved search system including at least a rotating storage device for facilitating the retrieval of records positioned successively along a plurality of concentric storage tracks of a magnetic surface of said device, each record including at least a key argument field portion and a data field portion, said system being operative to initiate a search for a data record identified by key argument byte signals transmitted by an input/output system as part of a command to said search system, said system further including a microprogrammed peripheral processing unit coupled to said device, said microprogrammed peripheral processing unit comprising: microprogram processor control means, said control means including an addressable control store having a plurality of storage locations for storing a plurality of microinstructions and decoding means coupled to said control store for generating control signals in response to said microinstructions read out from said storage locations; addressable read/write storage means coupled to said processor control means and operatively coupled to said input/output system, said storage means including a plurality of storage locations for storing information used in processing commands from said input/output system when conditioned by said processor control means; data transfer means coupled to said read/write storage means and to said device, said data transfer means being operative to transfer signals between said read/write storage means and to said device; arithmetic and logic means coupled to said microprogram control means and to said read/write storage means, said arithmetic and logic means including first and second input means and being operative to perform arithmetic and logical operations upon signals applied to said first and second input means; said microprogram control means including first means operative in response to command signals from said input/output system specifying a predetermined type of search operation to condition said decoding means to generate control signals for conditioning said read/write storage means to store concurrently sets of byte signal representations of first and second groups of key argument signals from said data transfer means as applied to said first and second input means respectively from said input/output system and from said storage device read as a portion of a first data record encountered as one of said plurality of tracks, and said microprogram control decoding means including means operative to generate control signals to condition said arithmetic and logic means to compare said sets of said byte signals and provide signals indicating the results of said compare operation; and, said first means of said microprogram processor control means including means operative upon completing the processing of said first record in response to said signals From said arithmetic and logic means indicative of unsuccessful compare operation to condition said decoding means to generate control signals to condition said read/write storage means to store thereafter only second groups of byte signals received from said data transfer means corresponding to key argument field portions of data records successively read from said one track and to read out concurrently therewith said first groups of previously stored signals for comparison by said arithmetic and logic means against each one of said second groups until the identified record is located.

Claim 3

The search system of claim 1 wherein said first means of said microprogram control means further includes indicator means coupled to said decoding means and branch control means coupled to said control store, said branch control means having a plurality of inputs for receiving signals to be tested and for conditioning said control store to branch to microinstructions in accordance with the states of said signals and wherein first and second groups of said plurality of storage locations of said control store includes first and second sequences of microinstructions respectively, said branch control means being operative in response to said command signals to condition said control store to reference said first group of said plurality of storage locations storing said first sequence of microinstructions, said decoding means beinig operative upon decoding said microinstructions of said first sequence to generate control signals which set said indicator means and condition said arithmetic and logic means for comparing key argument portions of said first record and said branch control means being operative to condition said means following completion of each compare operation of said key argument portions of each record in response to said signals indicative of said unsuccessful comparison to cause said control store to reference a first microinstruction included at a predetermined location of said first group of locations storing said first sequence of microinstructions, said decoding means in response to said first microinstruction generating control signals for conditioning said branch control means to test said indicator means, said branch control means including means responsive to said indicator means when set to cause said control store to reference said second group of storage locations storing said second sequence of microinstructions for conditioning said arithmetic and logic means for processing a next record and subsequent records by enabling repetitive execution of said second sequence of microinstructions in accordance with the state of said indicator means for comparing the key argument portions of each of said data records subsequently read from said device.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of storage locations include a sequence of microinstructions for conditioning said decoder means to generate control signals to indicate occurrence of a positive comparison when the key argument signals read from said device are identical to the key argument signals received from said input/output system and are different from said key argument signals in one of a number of predetermined ways defined by the coding of command byte signals included in said command signals.

Claim 5

The system of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of tracks includes an index mark signal and a plurality of records, said key argument portion of each record having a given numerical value, said records being arranged successively in increasing numerical order of their key argument field portions so as to provide collectively a sequentially ordered file of data records and said command signals including a command code byte coded to specify an extended type of search operation and wherein said processing unit further includes: general register storage means including a plurality of register storage locations, said general register storage means being coupled to said arithmetic and logic meAns and to said microprogram processor control means, said general register storage means being conditioned by control signals from said decoding means to store signal representations of said command code byte in a first one of said register storage locations; wherein said arithmetic and logic means includes result storage means for storing signal indications of the results of said operations, said arithmetic and logic means having first and second series connected bistable storage means, said first bistable means being conditioned by said arithmetic and logic means to assume a predetermined state in response to signals indicating that said key argument signals of a data record compare identically to said key argument signals from said input/output system and said second bistable storage being conditioned by said first bistable means to switch to a predetermined state in response to said signals from said arithmetic and logic means indicating that said key argument signals of said data record are higher in numerical value than said key argument signals from said input/output system; and, said control store of microprogram processor control means including a microinstruction sequence used to determine the results of said search, said control store being operative at the completion of each said compare operation to reference said microinstruction sequence, said decoding means in response to said microinstructions being operative to generate control signals to test the states of said first and second bistable means and in accordance with the coding of said command code store signal bit indications of the results of said compare operation in a second one of storage locations of said general register storage means, said decoding means causing a first one of said result indication bits to be set when said key argument signals of said record are identical to said key argument signals of said input/output system, a second one of said result indication bits to be set to signal a hit condition when the type of extended search operation specified by said command code is successful and a third one of said indication bits to be set when said key argument signals of said record are less in numerical value than said key argument signals previously received from said input/output system.

Claim 6

The system of claim 4 wherein said command code byte is coded to specify locatin of a data record on any one of said plurality of said tracks whose key argument portion has a numerical value equal to or higher than said key argument signals from said input/output system, and said first means of said processor control means being responsive to signals representative of said command code after a compare operation to condition said decoding means to generate control signals which set said second one of said indication bits of said second storage location only when said first and third ones of said bits designate the occurrence of a low to high compare transition in the key argument signals of successive data records thereby ensuring comparison of only those data records on said plurality of tracks required for location of said data record specified by said key argument signals receiving from said input/output system.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said command code byte is coded to specify location of a data record on a single track having a key argument portion which has a numerical value equal or higher than said key argument signals of the data record to be located; said processing unit further including means for applying to said first means a signal indicating the occurrence of said index mark signal, said control store being operative in response to said signal to cause said decoding means to generate control signals to set a fourth one of said indication bits of said second storage location together with setting said first bit; and, said first means responsive to signals representative of said command code after a compare operation to cause said decoding means to gEnerate control signals to set said second one of said indicator bits of said second storage location only when said first bit is set and when said first one and second one of said indicator bits designate a low to high compare transition thereby ensuring the reading of only those of said data records required to locate the specified record.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein said command signals further include a flag byte and said general register storage means being conditioned by control signals from said decoding means to store signal representations of said flag byte in a third one of said storage locations and said first means prior to initiating said first compare operation being operative to cause said decoding means to generate control signals to set one of the bits in said third storage location designating the comparison of said key argument portion of said first record and said first means being operative in response to signals from said third location indicating the absence of said second bit set, to cause said decoding means to generate control signals for conditioning said arithmetic and logic means to test the state of said one of said flat byte bits and when set to generate control signals to repeat said compare operation using as a source said key argument signals stored in said read/write storage means received from said input/output system.

Claim 9

The system of claim 7 wherein a first plurality of said storage locations of said control store includes a first sequence of microinstructions, said decoding means being operative in response to said first sequence to generate control signals for conditioning said arithmetic and logic means for said first compare operations and for setting said one of said flag byte bits stored in said third storage location and a second plurality of said storage locations of said control store for storing a second sequence of microinstructions, said decoding means being operative to generate control signals to test said one bit and when set and cause said control store to reference said second sequence of microinstructions, said decoding means being operative in response to said second sequence of microinstructions to generate control signals for conditioning said arithmetic and logic means for repeating said compare operation using a common set of microinstructions.

Claim 10

The system of claim 7 wherein said read/write storage means further includes: a first register connected to said storage means for storing an address for referencing said memory storage locations; a second register connected to temporarily store the byte contents of each referenced location; and, control means coupled to said storage means for conditioning said storage means for read and write memory cycles of operation; and wherein, said control store is operative initially to reference a first microinstruction, said decoding means in response to said first microinstruction generating control signals to load a starting address from said control store to said first register means and said control means being conditioned by signals from said decoding means during said first compare operation to have storage means initiate successive pairs of write memory cycles of operation for storing said key argument signals and said control means being conditioned by signals from said decoding control means during subsequent compare operations to have said storage means initiate successive pairs of write and read memory cycles for storing said key argument signals and reading out said stored key argument signals to said second register.

Claim 11

The system of claim 9 wherein said storage means further includes toggle control means coupled to said first register, said toggle control means being operative to modify the state of one of the address bits stored in said first register having a predetermined positional value during each of said pairs of memory cycles to enable concurrent storage of key argument signals from said device and said input/output System into first and second groups of said plurality of locations during said first compare operation and storage of key argument signals from said device in said first group and read out of said key argument signals from said second group during said subsequent compare operations.

Claim 12

The system of claim 10 wherein said storage means further includes incrementing means connected to said processor control means and to said first register, said incrementing means being adapted to increment the address contents of said first register after each memory cycle following modification of said one address bit thereby enabling addressing of successive sequential locations in said first and second groups.

Claim 13

The system of claim 11 wherein said predetermined positional value of said one of said address bits of said first register is selected to correspond to a numerical value which is twice the maximum number of key argument signals which can be transferred by said input/output system.

Claim 14

The system of claim 11 wherein said numerical valve is equal or greater than 255.

Claim 15

An improved search system including at least a storage device for facilitating the retrieval of records positioned successively along a plurality of concentric storage tracks of a magnetic surface of said storage device in response to command signals received from an input/output system which include a transfer of command code byte signals coded to specify the type of operation to be performed, a number byte signals corresponding to a key argument of a record to be located, each record including at least a key argument field portion and a data field portion and each track including only a single home address field, said search system further including a magnetic storage processing unit being coupled to said input/output system and comprising: programmable processor control means, said control means including addressable control store for storing programs, each having a plurality of instructions coded to specify elemental operations to be executed by said processing unit and decoding means coupled to said control storage for generating control signals in response to read out of said instructions from said control store; addressable read/write storage coupled to said control means and including a plurality of memory storage locations, said storage means having a first input operatively coupled to receive said key argument signals transferred to said processing unit by said input/output system and a second input operatively coupled to receive key argument signals read by said storage device corresponding to a key argument field portion of a first record, said storage being conditioned by control signals generated by said decoding means to store concurrently key argument signals from said device and input/output system as they are being received; an arithmetic and logic unit having a first operand input operatively coupled to receive said key argument signals from said input/output system and a second operand input operatively coupled to receive said key argument signals read by said device, said arithmetic and logic unit being coupled to be conditioned by control signals generated by said processor control decoding means in response to said command code byte signals during the reading of said first record from said device to compare said key argument signals from said device and from said input/output system, said arithmetic and logic unit including means for generating signals used to indicate a positive comparison therebetween; said processor control means including first means coupled to said store operative upon completion of a first compare operation in response to said command code byte signals indicating a predetermined type of search operation in the absence of a positive comparison operative to condition said decoding means to generate control signals causing said read/write storage means to store successively only key argument signals read by said device received from sAid first input and concurrently therewith read out to an output signal signal representations of said stored key argument signals received previously from said input/output system; and, said arithmetic and logic unit being conditioned by said control signals to receive from said first operand input said key argument signals applied from said read/write storage means output for comparison with key argument signals read by said device received from said second operand input eliminating the need for said input/output system to transfer repeatedly said key argument signals of said record to be located thereby freeing up said input/output system for operations not involving said magnetic storage processing unit.

Claim 16

An improved search system including at least a storage device for facilitating the retrieval of records positioned successively along a plurality of concentric storage tracks of a magnetic surface of said storage device in response to command signals received from an input/output system which include a transfer of command code byte signals coded to specify the type of operation to be performed, a number byte signals corresponding to a key argument of a record to be located, each record including at least a key argument field portion and a data field portion and each track including only a single home address field, said search system further including a magnetic storage processing unit being coupled to said input/output system and comprising: programmable processor control means, said control means including addressable control store for storing programs, each having a plurality of instructions coded to specify elemental operations to be executed by said processing unit and decoding means coupled to said control storage for generating control signals in response to read out of said instructions from said control store; addressable read/write storage coupled to said control means and including a plurality of memory storage locations, said storage means having a first input operatively coupled to receive said key argument signals transferred to said processing unit by said input/output system and a second input operatively coupled to receive key argument signals read by said storage device corresponding to a key argument field portion of a first record, said storage being conditioned by control signals generated by said decoding means to store concurrently key argument signals from said device and input/output system as they are being received; an arithmetic and logic unit having a first operand input operatively coupled to receive said key argument signals from said input/output system and a second operand input operatively coupled to receive said key argument signals read by said device, said arithmetic and logic unit being coupled to be conditioned by control signals generated by said processor control decoding means in response to said command code byte signals during the reading of said first record from said device to compare said key argument signals from said device and from said input/output system, said arithmetic and logic unit including means for generating signals used to indicate a positive comparison therebetween; said processor control means including first means coupled to said store operative upon completion of a first compare operation in response to said command code byte signals indicating a predetermined type of search operation in the absence of a positive comparison operative to condition said decoding means to generate control signals causing said read/write storage means to store successively only key argument signals read by said device received from sAid first input and concurrently therewith read out to an output signal signal representations of said stored key argument signals received previously from said input/output system; and, said arithmetic and logic unit being conditioned by said control signals to receive from said first operand input said key argument signals applied from said read/write storage means output for comparison with key argument signals read by said device received from said second operand input eliminating the need for said input/output system to transfer repeatedly said key argument signals of said record to be located thereby freeing up said input/output system for operations not involving said magnetic storage processing unit.

Claim 17

The system of claim 14 wherein said plurality of storage locations include a sequence of microinstructions for conditioning said decoder means to generate control signals to indicate occurrence of a positive comparison when the key argument signals read from said device are identical to the key argument signals received from said input/output system and are different from said key argument signals in one of a number of predetermined ways defined by the coding of command byte signals included in said command signals.

Claim 18

The system of claim 14 wherein each of said plurality of tracks includes an index mark signal and a plurality of records, said key argument portions of each record having a given numerical value, said records being arranged successively in increasing numerical order of their key argument field portions so as to provide collectively sequentially ordered file of data records and said command signals including a command code byte coded to specify an extended type of search operation and wherein said processing unit further includes: general register storage means including a plurality of register storage locations, said general register storage means being coupled to said arithmetic and logic means and to said processor control means, said general register storage means being conditioned by control signals from said decoding means to store signal representations of said command code byte in a first one of said register storage locations; wherein said arithmetic and logic unit includes result storage means for storing signal indications of the results of said operations, said arithmetic and logic unit having first and second series connected bistable storage means, said first bistable means being conditioned by said arithmetic and logic unit to assume a predetermined state in response to signals indicating that said key argument signals of a data record compares identically to said key argument signals from said input/output system and said second bistable storage being conditioned by said first bistable means to switch to a predetermined state in response to said signals from said arithmetic and logic unit indicating that said key argument signals of said data record is higher in numerical value than said key argument signals from said input/output system; and, said control store of processor control means including an instruction sequence used to determine the results of said search, said control store being operative at the completion of each said compare operation to reference said instruction sequence, said decoding means in response to said instruction being operative to generate control signals to test the states of said first and second bistable means and in accordance with the coding of said command code byte signals store signal bit indications of the results of said compare operation in a second one of storage locations of said general register storage means, said decoding means causing a first one of said result indication bits to be set when said key argument signals of said record are identical to said key argument signals of said input/output system, a second one of said result indication bits to be set to signal a hit condition when the type of extended search operation specified by said command code byte signaLs is successful and a third one of said indication bits to be set when said key argument signals of said record are less in numerical value than said key argument signals previously received from said input/output system.

Claim 19

The system of claim 16 wherein said command code byte signals are coded to specify the location of a data record on any one of said plurality of said tracks whose key argument portion has a numerical value equal to or higher than said key argument signals from said input/output system; and, said first means of said processor control means being responsive to signal representative of said command code after a compare operation to condition said decoding means to generate control signals which set said second one of said indication bits of said second storage location only when said first and third ones of said bits designate the occurrence of a low to high compare transition in the key argument signals of successively read data records thereby ensuring comparison of only those data records on said plurality of tracks required for locations of said data record specified by said key argument signals received from said input/output system.

Claim 20

The system of claim 16 wherein said command code byte signals are coded to specify the location of a data record on a single track having a key argument portion which has a numerical value equal or higher than said key argument signals of the data record to be located; said processing unit further including means for applying to said first means a signal indicating the occurrence of said index mark signal, said control store means being operative in response to said signal to cause said decoding means to generate control signals to set a fourth one of said indication bits of said second storage location together with setting said first bit; and, said first means responsive to signals representative of said command code after a compare operation to cause said decoding means to generate control signal to set said second one of said indicator bits of said second storage location only when said first bit is set and when said first one and second one of said indicator bits designate a low to high compare transition thereby ensuring the reading of only those of said data records required to locate the specified record.

Claim 21

The system of claim 16 wherein said command signals further include a flag byte and said general register storage means being conditioned by control signals from said decoding means to store signal representations of said flag byte in a third one of said storage locations and said first means prior to initiating said first compare operation being operative to cause said decoding means to generate control signals to set one of the bits in said third storage location designating the comparison of said key argument portion of said first record and said first means being operative in response to signals from said third location indicating the absence of said second bit set, to cause said decoding means to generate control signals for conditioning said arithmetic and logic unit to test the state of said one of said flag byte bits and when set to generate control signals to repeat said compare operation using as a source said key argument signals stored in said read/write storage means received from said input/output system.

Claim 22

The system of claim 19 wherein a first plurality of said storage locations of said control store includes a first sequence of instructions, said decoding means being operative in response to said first sequence to generate control signals for conditioning said arithmetic and logic unit for said first compare operation and for setting said one of said flag byte bits stored in said third storage location and a second plurality of said storage locations of said control store for storing a second sequence of instructions, said decoding means being operative to generate control signals to test said one bit and when set and cause said control store to reference said secOnd sequence of instructions, said decoding means being operative in response to said second sequence of instructions to generate control signals for conditioning said arithmetic and logic unit for repeating said compare operation using a common set of instructions.

Claim 23

The system of claim 19 wherein said read/write storage means further includes: a first register connected to said storage means for storing an address for referencing said memory storage locations; a second register connected to temporarily store the byte contents of each referenced location; and, control means coupled to said storage means for conditioning said storage means for read and write memory cycles of operation; and wherein, said processor control store is operative initially to reference a first instruction, said decoding means in response to said first instruction generating control signals to load a starting address from said control store to said first register means and said control means being conditioned by signals from said decoding means during said first compare operation to have said storage means initiate successive pairs of write memory cycles of operation for storing said key argument signals and said control means being conditioned by signals from said decoding control means during subsequent compare operations to have said storage means initiate successive pairs of write and read memory cycles for storing said key argument signals and reading out said stored key argument signals to said second register.

Claim 24

The system of claim 21 wherein said storage means further includes toggle control means coupled to said first register, said toggle control means being operative to modify the state of one of the address bits stored in said first register having a predetermined positional value during each of said pairs of memory cycles to enable concurrent storage of key argument signals from said device and said input/output system into first and second groups of said plurality of locations during said first compare operation and storage of key argument signals from said device in said first group and read out of key argument signals from said second group during said subsequent compare operations.

Claim 25

The system of claim 22 wherein said storage means further includes incrementing means connected to said processor control means and to said first register, said incrementing means being adapted to increment the address contents of said first register after each memory cycle following modification of said one address bit thereby enabling addressing of successive sequential locations in said first and second groups.

Claim 26

The system of claim 22 wherein said predetermined positional value of said one of said address bits of said first register is selected to correspond to a numerical value which is twice the maximum number of key argument signals which can be transferred by said input/output system.

Claim 27

The system of claim 24 wherein said numerical value is equal or greater than 255.

Claim 28

An improved peripheral processing system for use in a data processing system including an input/output controller coupled to a main storage unit, said controller operating under the control of a channel program including a series of channel command entries, each entry having at least a pair of channel command words, said words being coded to include a command code field, a count field coded to specify the size of a buffer area in said main storage unit to or from which a transfer is to take place, and an absolute buffer address field coded to specify an address of a first location of said buffer area, said input/output controller being operative in response to signals from said peripheral processing system to transmit search argument byte signals stored in said buffer area as part of a single command specifying a search operation to said peripheral processing system identifying which one of a plurality of records positioned along a plurality of concentric storage tracKs of a magnetic surface of a storage device is to be located, each record including at least a key argument field portion and a data field portion, said peripheral processing system being coupled to said input/output controller and comprising: microprogrammed processing control means coupled to receive commmand code signals corresponding to a command code specifying a predetermined type of search operation, said processing control means including an addressable control store including a plurality of storage locations for storing microinstructions and decoding means coupled to said control store for generating sets of control signals in response to said microinstructions; addressable read/write storage including a plurality of memory storage locations, said storage being coupled to receive address signals from said microprogrammed processing means and being operatively coupled to receive said search argument byte signals from said input/output controller and signals from said storage device; compare means coupled to said read/write storage means and to said microprogrammed processing means, said compare means operative to compare pairs of first and second groups of search argument byte signals; and said microprogrammed processing means including first means in response to said command code specifying said predetermined type of search operation to cause said control store to condition said decoding means to generate a first set of control signals for enabling said read/write storage to store concurrently pairs of first and second groups of search argument byte signals as received from said input/output controller and from said storage device respectively during the reading of the search argument of a first record and for enabling said compare means to compare concurrent therewith said pairs of said search argument byte signals, said microprogram processing first means in response to signals from said comparison means indicative of an unsuccessful match of search argument byte signals to cause said control store to condition said decoding means to generate a second group of control signals to enable said read/write storage means to store only said second groups of byte signals and read out search argument byte signals of said first group and for enabling said compare means for comparing said byte signals of said first group with said byte signals of said second group.

Claim 29

An improved peripheral processing system for use in a data processing system including an input/output controller coupled to a main storage unit, said controller operating under the control of a channel program including a series of channel command entries, each entry having at least a pair of channel command words, said words being coded to include a command code field, a count field coded to specify the size of a buffer area in said main storage unit to or from which a transfer is to take place, and an absolute buffer address field coded to specify an address of a first location of said buffer area, said input/output controller being operative in response to signals from said peripheral processing system to transmit search argument byte signals stored in said buffer area as part of a single command specifying a search operation to said peripheral processing system identifying which one of a plurality of records positioned along a plurality of concentric storage tracKs of a magnetic surface of a storage device is to be located, each record including at least a key argument field portion and a data field portion, said peripheral processing system being coupled to said input/output controller and comprising: microprogrammed processing control means coupled to receive commmand code signals corresponding to a command code specifying a predetermined type of search operation, said processing control means including an addressable control store including a plurality of storage locations for storing microinstructions and decoding means coupled to said control store for generating sets of control signals in response to said microinstructions; addressable read/write storage including a plurality of memory storage locations, said storage being coupled to receive address signals from said microprogrammed processing means and being operatively coupled to receive said search argument byte signals from said input/output controller and signals from said storage device; compare means coupled to said read/write storage means and to said microprogrammed processing means, said compare means operative to compare pairs of first and second groups of search argument byte signals; and said microprogrammed processing means including first means in response to said command code specifying said predetermined type of search operation to cause said control store to condition said decoding means to generate a first set of control signals for enabling said read/write storage to store concurrently pairs of first and second groups of search argument byte signals as received from said input/output controller and from said storage device respectively during the reading of the search argument of a first record and for enabling said compare means to compare concurrent therewith said pairs of said search argument byte signals, said microprogram processing first means in response to signals from said comparison means indicative of an unsuccessful match of search argument byte signals to cause said control store to condition said decoding means to generate a second group of control signals to enable said read/write storage means to store only said second groups of byte signals and read out search argument byte signals of said first group and for enabling said compare means for comparing said byte signals of said first group with said byte signals of said second group.

Claim 30

The system of claim 26 wherein said first means of said microprogrammed processing control means further includes indicator means coupled to said decoding means and branch control means coupled to said control store, said branch control means having a plurality of inputs for receiving signals to be tested and for conditioning said control store to branch to microinstructions in accordance with the states of said signals and wherein first and second groups of said plurality of storage locations of said store includes first and second sequences of microinstructions respectively, said branch control means being operative in response to said command signals to condition said control store to reference said first group of said plurality of storage locations storing said first sequence of microinstructions, said decoding means being operative upon decoding said microinstructions of said first sequence to generate control signals which set said indicator means and condition said compare means for comparing key argument portions of said first record and said branch control means being operative to condition said means following completion of each compare operation of said key argument portions of each record in response to said signals indicative of said unsuccessful comparison to cause said control store to reference a first microinstruction included at a predetermined location of said first group of locations storing said first sequence of microinstructions, said decoding means in response to said first microinstruction generating control signals for conditioning said branch control means To test said indicator means, said branch control means including means responsive to said indicator means when set to cause said control store to reference said second group of storage locations storing said second sequence of microinstructions for conditioning said compare means for processing a next record and subsequent records by enabling repetitive execution of said second sequence of microinstructions in accordance with the state of said indicator means for comparing the key argument portions of each of said data records subsequently read from said device.

Claim 31

The system of claim 26 wherein said plurality of storage locations include a sequence of microinstructions for conditioning said decoder means to generate control signals to indicate occurrence of a positive comparison whenthe key when the signals read from said device are identical to the key argument signals received from said input/output controller and are different from said key argument signals in one of a number of predetermined ways defined by the coding of command byte signals included in said command signals.

Claim 32

The system of claim 26 wherein each of said plurality of tracks includes an index mark signals and a plurality of records, said key argument portion of each record having a given numerical value, said records being arranged successively in increasing numerical order of their key argument field portions so as to provide collectively sequentially ordered file of data records and said command signals including a command code byte coded to specify an extended type of search operation and wherein said processing means further includes: general register storage means including a plurality of register storage locations, said general register storage means being coupled to said compare means and to said processing control means, said general register storage means being conditioned by control signals from said decoding means to store signal representations of said command code signals in a first one of said register storage locations; wherein said compare means includes result storage means for storing signal indications of the results of said operations, said compare means having first and second series connected bistable storage means, said first bistable means being conditioned by said compare means to assume a predetermined state in response to signals indicating that said key argument signals of a data record compares identically to said key argument signals from said input/output controller and said second bistable storage being conditioned by said first bistable means to switch to a predetermined state in response to said signals from said compare means indicating that said key argument signals of said data record is higher in numerical value than said key argument signals from said input/output controller; and, said control store of processing control means including a microinstruction sequence used to determine the results of said search, said control store being operative at the completion of each said compare operation to reference said microinstruction sequence, said decoding means in response to said microinstruction being operative to generate control signals to test the states of said first and second bistable means and in accordance with the coding of said command code store signal bit indications of the results of said compare operation in a second one of storage locations of said general register storage means, said decoding means causing a first one of said result indication bits to be set when said key argument signals of said record is identical to said key argument signals of said input/output system, a second one of said result indication bits to be set to signal a hit condition when the type of extended search operation specified by said command code is successful and a third one of said indication bits to be set when said key argument signals of said record is less in numerical value than said key argument signals previously received from said input/outPut controller.

Claim 33

The system of claim 29 wherein said command code signals are coded to specify location of a data record on any one of said plurality of said tracks whose key argument portion has a numerical value equal to or higher than said key argument signals from said input/output controller; and, said first means of said processing control means being responsive to signals representative of said command code after a compare operation to control said decoding means to generate control signals which set said second one of said indication bits of said second storage location only when said first and third ones of said bits designate the occurrence of a low to high compare transition in the key argument signals thereby ensuring comparison of only those data records on said plurality of tracks required for location of said data record specified by said key argument byte signals received from said input/output controller.

Claim 34

The system of claim 26 wherein said read/write storage further includes: a first register connected to said storage for storing an address for referencing said memory storage locations; a second register connected to temporarily store the byte contents of each referenced location; and, control means coupled to said storage for conditioning said storage for read and write memory cycles of operation; and wherein, said control store is operative initially to reference a first microinstruction, said decoding means in response to said first microinstruction generating control signals to load a starting address from said control store to said first register and said control means being conditioned by signals from said decoding means during said first compare operation to have said storage initiate successive pairs of write memory cycles of operation for storing said key argument signals and said control means being conditioned by signals from said decoding means during subsequent compare operations to have said storage initiate successive pairs of write and read memory cycles for storing said key argument signals and reading out said stored key argument signals to said second register.

Claim 35

The system of claim 31 wherein said storage further includes toggle control means coupled to said first register, said toggle control means being operative to modify the state of one of the address bits stored in said first register having a predetermined positional value during each of said pair of memory cycles to enable concurrent storage of key argument signals from said device and said input/output controller into first and second groups of said plurality of locations during said first compare operation and storage of key argument signals from said device in said first group and read out of said key argument signals from said second group during said subsequent compare operations.

Claim 36

The system of claim 32 wherein said storage further includes incrementing means connected to said processing control means and to said first register, said incrementing means being adapted to increment the address contents of said first register after each memory cycle following modification of said one address bit thereby enabling addressing of successive sequential locations in said first and second groups.

Claim 37

The system of claim 33 wherein said predetermined positional value of said one of said address bits of said first register is selected to correspond to a numerical value which is twice the maximum number of key argument signals which can be transferred by said input/output controller.