The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 09, 1995
Filed:
Dec. 07, 1990
Virginia L Alexander, Austin, TX (US);
James L Gaudet, Austin, TX (US);
Lloyd E Jordan, II, Austin, TX (US);
Raymond Hernandez, Austin, TX (US);
International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, NY (US);
Abstract
A digital computer system and method for storing and retrieving data contained in a 'relational data table' in such a way that individual items of data are readily accessible and the data itself is compressible. The items of data are arranged in the table in a plurality of rows and columns. The items of data in each given column are of the same type (fixed length character, variable length up to a prescribed maximum length, etc.). The items of data are arranged in a particular data format which comprises a plurality of 'column descriptor' or 'C' records, each of which is associated with one column of the table, followed by a plurality of 'data' or 'D' records which include the items of data in the table. The D records and C records contain the following information: Each D record includes one or more of the items of data from a particular table row. It is therefore associated with this table row and with at least one table column. Each C record, which is associated with one of the table columns, includes an identification of the associated column, an identification of a D record which includes an item of data in the associated column, and a number defining the absolute displacement of the beginning of the items of data arranged in the respective column with respect to the beginning of the D records associated with that column.