Method and apparatus for data storage and interchange using a relational database table, and a data record for use in connection therewith

Claim 1

A digital computer system comprising a central processing unit; a record medium for storing data; and read/write means, connected to said central processing unit, for storing on, and retrieving from said record medium a plurality of information records including stored representations of a relational data table formed of a plurality of items of data arranged in both a plurality of table rows and a plurality of table columns, with each item of data having a beginning and an end, and all items of data in any given column being one of (a) fixed length and (b) variable length up to a prescribed maximum length, said read/write means comprising; (1) means for storing on, and retrieving from said record medium a plurality of data ("D") records each D record being of variable length and including one or more of said items of data from a particular table row, thereby being associated with one table row and at least one table column, each D record having a beginning and an end, said items of data in said particular row being ordered serially in succession in said D record, there being at least one D record associated with each table row, with successive ones of said D records that are associated with each particular table row being associated with the same table columns as corresponding successive ones of said D records that are associated with every other table row, such that the number of D records associated with each table row is the same; and (2) means for storing on, and retrieving from said record medium a plurality of column descriptor ("C") records, each C record being associated with one of said table columns and including, for said one column: (i) an identification of said one column; (ii) an identification of a D records which include an item of data in said one column; and (iii) a number defining absolute displacement of the beginning of the items of data arranged in said one column with respect to the beginning of the D records associated with said one column; said central processing unit comprising: (1) addressing means for receiving the column and row location within the relational data table of a desired item of data; (2) first means, responsive to said addressing means and to said means for retrieving said C records from said record medium, for determining from said C records; (i) the identity of the D records that include the received column of the relational data table, and (ii) the absolute displacement within the identified D records of said received column; and (3) second means, for retrieving said desired item of data from said record medium, based on the determined D-identification, the absolute displacement and the row location of the desired item of data.

Claim 15

A method of storing on, and retrieving from a machine readable record medium, a plurality of records including stored representations of a relational data table formed of a plurality of items of data arranged in both a plurality of table rows and a plurality of table columns, with each item of data having a beginning and an end, and all items of data in any given column being one of (a) fixed length and (b) variable length up to a prescribed maximum length, said storing and retrieving method comprising the steps of: (1) automatically storing on said record medium a plurality of data ("D") records, each D record being of variable length and including one or more items of data from a particular table row, thereby being associated with one table row and at least one table column, each D record having a beginning and an end, said items of data in said particular row being ordered serially in successsion in said D record, there being at least one D record associated with each table row, with successive ones of said D records that are associated with each particular table row being associated with the same table columns as corresponding successive ones of said D records that are associated with every other table row, such that the number of D records associated with each table row is the same; and (2) automatically storing a plurality of column descriptor ("C") records on said record medium, each C record being associated with one table columns and including, for said one column: (i) an identification of said one column; (ii) an identification of the D records which include an item of data in said one column; and (iii) a number defining absolute displacement of the beginning of items of data arranged in said one column with respect to the D records associated with said one column; (3) automatically retrieving said C records from said record medium in response to a request to retrieve a desired item of data in a particular column and row location in said relational data table; (4) automatically identifying from said C records the identity of a D record and the absolute displacement within such D record of said particular location in said relational data table; (5) automatically retrieving from said record medium said D record identified in step (4); and (6) automatically determining said desired item of data from said absolute displacement.

Claim 16

A method of storing on, and retrieving from a machine readable record medium, a plurality of records including stored representations of a relational data table formed of a plurality of items of data arranged in both a plurality of table rows and a plurality of table columns, with each item of data having a beginning and an end, and all items of data in any given column being one of (a) fixed length and (b) variable length up to a prescribed maximum length, said storing and retrieving method comprising the steps of: (1) automatically storing on said record medium a plurality of data ("D") records, each D record being of variable length and including one or more items of data from a particular table row, thereby being associated with one table row and at least one table column, each D record having a beginning and an end, said items of data in said particular row being ordered serially in successsion in said D record, there being at least one D record associated with each table row, with successive ones of said D records that are associated with each particular table row being associated with the same table columns as corresponding successive ones of said D records that are associated with every other table row, such that the number of D records associated with each table row is the same; and (2) automatically storing a plurality of column descriptor ("C") records on said record medium, each C record being associated with one table columns and including, for said one column: (i) an identification of said one column; (ii) an identification of the D records which include an item of data in said one column; and (iii) a number defining absolute displacement of the beginning of items of data arranged in said one column with respect to the D records associated with said one column; (3) automatically retrieving said C records from said record medium in response to a request to retrieve a desired item of data in a particular column and row location in said relational data table; (4) automatically identifying from said C records the identity of a D record and the absolute displacement within such D record of said particular location in said relational data table; (5) automatically retrieving from said record medium said D record identified in step (4); and (6) automatically determining said desired item of data from said absolute displacement.