US 5,179,701 AGranted

Organizing a process database having different types of data blocks by maintaining separate tables for generic routines and for block-type specific routines

AssigneeIntellution, Incorporation

InventorAlpin C. Chisholm

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Abstract

A system that comprises a process database of the kind that includes a plurality of types of data blocks, each block type using categories of routines for processing data in blocks of that type, including a category of routines that are specific to the block type and a category of routines that are generic to at least two of the block types; the system includes a table that contains a record of information concerning the category of routines that are specific to an individual block type, and a separate table that contains a record of information about the generic category of routines. This arrangement allows new types of data blocks to be added or existing block types modified (e.g., by changing routines or adding new routines) simply by creating or changing the table for that block type, without having to change the separate table for the generic routines.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A system that comprises

a processor,
a process database for storing data, said database including a plurality of types of data blocks, said types of blocks being organized so that each said type includes blocks of data on which said processor performs a common type of processing that is different from the processing performed by said processor on other types of data blocks, each one of said data blocks of each said type storing data that is specific to said block type and data that is generic to said block type and at least one other block types,
means for maintaining a table that contains a record of information identifying a category of specific routines for processing data that is specific to one of said block types, said processor using said specific routines to perform said common type of processing for said block type, and
means for maintaining a separate table that contains a record of information identifying a category of generic routines for processing data that is generic to said one block type and at least one other block type,
said processor processing data in each block of said one type by:
(1) accessing said table and said separate table to obtain said specific routines and said generic routines, and (2) executing said specific routines and said generic routines on said specific data and said generic data, respectively, of said block.

3 more elements

In a system that comprises a processor and a process database for storing data, said database including a plurality of types of data blocks, said types of blocks being organized so that each said type includes blocks of data on which said processor performs a common type of processing that is different from the processing performed by said processor on other types of data blocks, each one of said data blocks of each said type storing data that is specific to said block type and data that is generic to said block type and at least one other block type, a method of adding a new type of data block which will store at least said generic data, said method comprising the steps of

said processor accepting input from a user of said system that defines a category of specific routines for processing data that is specific to said new type of data block, said processor thereafter using said specific routines to perform said common type of processing for said new type of data block,
said processor responding to said input by creating a table for said new block type that contains a record of information identifying said category of specific routines for said new type of block, and
said processor maintaining information identifying a category of generic routines for processing data that is generic to said new type of block and at least one other block type in a record of a separate, pre-existing table so that said processor need not redescribe said generic routines in said table that said processor creates for said new block type.

In a system that comprises a processor and a process database for storing data, said database including a plurality of types of data blocks, said types of blocks being organized so that each said type includes blocks of data on which said processor performs a common type of processing that is different from the processing performed by said processor on other types of data blocks, each one of said data blocks of each said type storing data that is specific to said block type and data that is generic to said block type and at least one other block type, a method of modifying an existing type of data block, said method comprising the steps of

said processor maintaining a table that contains a record of information identifying a category of specific routines for processing data that is specific to said type of data block being modified, said processor using said specific routines to perform said common type of processing for said type of data block,
said processor accepting input from a user of said system that modifies one or more of said specific routines of said type of data block,
said processor responding to said input by modifying said table so that said record of information identifies the modified routines, and
said processor maintaining information identifying a category of generic routines for processing data that is generic to said type of block being modified and at least one other block type in a record of a separate table so that said user need not enter said information identifying said generic routines to enable said processor to perform said modifying of said table for said modified block type.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.