Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
429 words
An information-arranging device comprising: two input memory means each for storing one group of records, each record comprising a plurality of words including at least one key word, said records being arranged serially with record positioning codes (BN) or different positioning codes (BK) interposed among them; comparator means coupled to said input memory means for comparing the key words of any two records read out from said two input memory means, respectively, and generating a comparison output signal; output memory means coupled to said input memory means and to said comparator means for storing, in response to a comparison output signal from said comparator means, one of the compared two records whose key word has priority and then the other record, together with a converted positioning code therebetween; means for converting a record positioning code (BN) between any two records whose key words have been compared into a different positioning code (BK) before the records are stored in said output memory means; positioning code-discriminating means coupled to said input memory means for determining whether a positioning code following each record read out from said input memory means is a record positioning code (BN) or a different positioning code (BK); control circuit means coupled to said memory means, comparing means and positioning code-discriminating means for causing, when a record positioning code (BN) is detected by said positioning code-discriminating means, at least one record whose key word has been compared by said comparator means and has no priority to be stored in said output memory means after the record whose key word has been compared with that of said record and has priority, until a different positioning code (BK) is detected by said positioning code-discriminating means, and causing, when a different postioning code (BK) is detected by said positioning code-discriminating means, the keyword of a record following said different positioning code (BK) to be compared with the non-priority key word of said record, thereby storing in said output memory means one of the two records whose key word has priority upon receipt of a comparison output signal from said comparator means; means for causing said comparator means to repeatedly compare the key words of two records at least one of which is different from the prior compared records; and means coupled to said input memory means for transferring to said two input memory means the records stored in said output memory means when all of said stored records are stored in the output memory means in a sequential order determined by the key word comparison repeatedly effected by said comparator means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
429 words
An information-arranging device comprising: two input memory means each for storing one group of records, each record comprising a plurality of words including at least one key word, said records being arranged serially with record positioning codes (BN) or different positioning codes (BK) interposed among them; comparator means coupled to said input memory means for comparing the key words of any two records read out from said two input memory means, respectively, and generating a comparison output signal; output memory means coupled to said input memory means and to said comparator means for storing, in response to a comparison output signal from said comparator means, one of the compared two records whose key word has priority and then the other record, together with a converted positioning code therebetween; means for converting a record positioning code (BN) between any two records whose key words have been compared into a different positioning code (BK) before the records are stored in said output memory means; positioning code-discriminating means coupled to said input memory means for determining whether a positioning code following each record read out from said input memory means is a record positioning code (BN) or a different positioning code (BK); control circuit means coupled to said memory means, comparing means and positioning code-discriminating means for causing, when a record positioning code (BN) is detected by said positioning code-discriminating means, at least one record whose key word has been compared by said comparator means and has no priority to be stored in said output memory means after the record whose key word has been compared with that of said record and has priority, until a different positioning code (BK) is detected by said positioning code-discriminating means, and causing, when a different postioning code (BK) is detected by said positioning code-discriminating means, the keyword of a record following said different positioning code (BK) to be compared with the non-priority key word of said record, thereby storing in said output memory means one of the two records whose key word has priority upon receipt of a comparison output signal from said comparator means; means for causing said comparator means to repeatedly compare the key words of two records at least one of which is different from the prior compared records; and means coupled to said input memory means for transferring to said two input memory means the records stored in said output memory means when all of said stored records are stored in the output memory means in a sequential order determined by the key word comparison repeatedly effected by said comparator means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The information-arranging device according to claim 1, wherein each of said two input memory means includes a buffer memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information-arranging device according to claim 2, wherein each of said buffer memories is a random access memory.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The information-arranging device according to claim 1, wherein said output memory means comprises two memory devices coupled together.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The information-arranging device according to claim 4, wherein said two memory devices have a record sorting means for sorting any two records whose key words have been compared by said comparator means when said two records are being stored in said two memory devices, respectively.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The information-arranging device according to claim 1, wherein said input and output memory means are comprised of a single memory device.