Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem for identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium (136(m)), a set of said valid data item updates, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, the valid data item update identification comprising: A. a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries (160(e)) each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; B. a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; C. a valid data item update identifier for using the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, the valid data item update identifier scanning the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determining whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if so determining that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update, and clearing the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
244 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem for identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium (136(m)), a set of said valid data item updates, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, the valid data item update identification comprising: A. a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries (160(e)) each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; B. a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; C. a valid data item update identifier for using the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, the valid data item update identifier scanning the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determining whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if so determining that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update, and clearing the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 1 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the valid data item update identifier conditioning said valid flag to said valid condition if it determines that the one of the data item updates associated with the directory entry is valid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 1 in which said valid data item update identifier, if it determines that the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for a data item update is not set, will determine that the data item update associated with the directory entry is not valid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 3 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the valid data item update identifier maintaining said valid flag in said at least one other condition if it determines that the one of the data item updates associated with the directory entry is not valid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 1 further comprising a data item update information update element for updating said storage medium directory when a said data item update is stored on said storage medium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 5 in which said data item update information update element, in updating said storage medium directory, generates a said directory entry for the data item update which the data item update storage subsystem is storing onto said storage medium, and loads the said directory entry into said storage medium directory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
50 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 6 in which the data item update information update element, when generating a directory entry for a data item update, uses the data item update's data item identifier in generating a said directory entry for the data item update.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 5 in which said data item update information update element, when a said data item update is stored on said storage medium, further conditions the one of said data item identifier flags of the data item identifier flag set associated with the data item update's data item identifier.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, a set of said valid data item updates, said method comprising the steps of: A. providing a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; B. providing a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; and C. using the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, by scanning the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determining whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if not determining that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update, and setting the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
227 words
A method of identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, a set of said valid data item updates, said method comprising the steps of: A. providing a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; B. providing a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; and C. using the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, by scanning the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determining whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if not determining that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update, and setting the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method as defined in claim 9 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the method further comprising the step of conditioning said valid flag to said valid condition if the data item update associated with the directory entry is valid.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as defined in claim 9 further comprising the step of determining, for each directory entry, that, if the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the one of said data item updates assoicated with the directory entry is not set, the data item update associated with the directory entry is not valid.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as defined in claim 11 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the method further comprising the step of maintaining said valid flag in said at least one other condition if the one of the data item updates associated with the directory entry is not valid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as defined in claim 9 further comprising the step of updating said storage medium directory when a said data item update is stored on said storage medium.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as defined in claim 13 in which the storage medium update step includes the step of generating a said directory entry for the data item update which the data item update storage subsystem is storing onto said storage medium, and loading the said directory entry into said storage medium directory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as defined in claim 14 in which the data item update information update step includes the step of using the data item update's data item identifier in generating a said directory entry for the data item update.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as defined in claim 13 in which said data item update information update step includes the step of conditioning the one of said data item identifier flags of the data item identifier flag set associated with the data item update's data item identifier.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
287 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem for identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium (136(m)), a set of said valid data item updates, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, the valid data item update identification comprising: A. a digital data processor; and B. a control subsystem comprising: i. a storage medium directory module for enabling said processor to maintain a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries (160(e)) each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; ii. a data item identifier module for enabling said processor to maintain a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; iii. a valid data item update identifier module for enabling said processor to use the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, the valid data item update identifier module enabling said processor to scan the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determine whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if so determine that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update and clear the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
287 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem for identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium (136(m)), a set of said valid data item updates, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, the valid data item update identification comprising: A. a digital data processor; and B. a control subsystem comprising: i. a storage medium directory module for enabling said processor to maintain a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries (160(e)) each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; ii. a data item identifier module for enabling said processor to maintain a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; iii. a valid data item update identifier module for enabling said processor to use the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, the valid data item update identifier module enabling said processor to scan the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determine whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if so determine that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update and clear the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
73 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 17 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the valid data item update identifier module enabling said computer to condition said valid flag to said valid condition if it determines that the one of the data item updates associated with the directory entry is valid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
63 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 17 in which said valid data item update identifier module enables said processor to determine that the data item update associated with a said directory entry is not valid if the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for a data item update is not set.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
76 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 19 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the valid data item update identifier enabling said processor to maintain said valid flag in said at least one other condition if it determines that the one of the data item updates associated with the directory entry is not valid.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 17 in which said control subsystem further comprises a data item update information update module for enabling said processor to update said storage medium directory when a said data item update is stored on said storage medium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
69 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 21 in which said data item update information update module, in enabling said processor to update said storage medium directory, enables said processor to generate a said directory entry for the data item update which the data item update storage subsystem is storing onto said storage medium, and load the said directory entry into said storage medium directory.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
58 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 22 in which the data item update information update module, when enabling said processor to generate a directory entry for a data item update, enables said processor to use the data item update's data item identifier in generating a said directory entry for the data item update.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
63 words
A valid data item update identification subsystem as defined in claim 23 in which said data item update information update module, when a said data item update is stored on said storage medium, enables said processor to further condition the one of said data item identifier flags of the data item identifier flag set associated with the data item update's data item identifier.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
287 words
A control subsystem for use in connection with a digital data processor to form a valid data item update identification subsystem for identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium (136(m)), a set of said valid data item updates, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, the control subsystem comprising: A. a storage medium directory module for enabling said processor to maintain a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries (160(e)) each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; B. a data item identifier module for enabling said processor to maintain a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; C. a valid data item update identifier module for enabling said processor to use the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, the valid data item update identifier module enabling said processor to scan the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determine whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if so determine that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update and clear the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
287 words
A control subsystem for use in connection with a digital data processor to form a valid data item update identification subsystem for identifying, from a plurality of data item updates serially stored on a storage medium (136(m)), a set of said valid data item updates, each data item update having a data item identifier which is one of a set of data item identifier values, the control subsystem comprising: A. a storage medium directory module for enabling said processor to maintain a storage medium directory including a series of directory entries (160(e)) each identifying, for a corresponding one of the series of data item updates stored on said storage medium, the data item identifier associated with said corresponding one of the series of data item updates; B. a data item identifier module for enabling said processor to maintain a data item identifier flag set comprising a plurality of data item identifier flags each associated with a said data item identifier value; C. a valid data item update identifier module for enabling said processor to use the storage medium directory and said data item identifier flag set to identify a set of valid data item updates on said storage medium, the valid data item update identifier module enabling said processor to scan the directory entries in said directory in reverse order and, for each directory entry, determine whether the data item identifier flag associated with the data item identifier contained in the directory entry is set and if so determine that the data item update associated with the directory entry is a valid data item update and clear the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for the valid data item update.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
69 words
A control subsystem as defined in claim 25 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the valid data item update identifier module enabling said computer to condition said valid flag to said valid condition if it determines that the one of the data item updates associated with the directory entry is valid.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
59 words
A control subsystem as defined in claim 25 in which said valid data item update identifier module enables said processor to determine that the data item update associated with a said directory entry is not valid if the one of the data item identifier flags associated with the data item identifier for a data item update is not set.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
72 words
A control subsystem as defined in claim 27 in which each directory entry in said storage medium directory includes a valid flag having a valid condition and at least one other condition, the valid data item update identifier enabling said processor to maintain said valid flag in said at least one other condition if it determines that the one of the data item updates associated with the directory entry is not valid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
44 words
A control subsystem as defined in claim 25 in which said control subsystem further comprises a data item update information update module for enabling said processor to update said storage medium directory when a said data item update is stored on said storage medium.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
65 words
A control subsystem as defined in claim 29 in which said data item update information update module, in enabling said processor to update said storage medium directory, enables said processor to generate a said directory entry for the data item update which the data item update storage subsystem is storing onto said storage medium, and load the said directory entry into said storage medium directory.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
54 words
A control subsystem as defined in claim 30 in which the data item update information update module, when enabling said processor to generate a directory entry for a data item update, enables said processor to use the data item update's data item identifier in generating a said directory entry for the data item update.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
59 words
A control subsystem as defined in claim 31 in which said data item update information update module, when a said data item update is stored on said storage medium, enables said processor to further condition the one of said data item identifier flags of the data item identifier flag set associated with the data item update's data item identifier.