System for creating related sets via once caching common file with each unique control file associated within the set to create a unique record image

A system for writing at and upon a multiplicity of successive times a multiplicity of recordable medium, each such medium being initially undifferentiated and unidentifiable one medium to the next save only for a unique permanent serial number marking that is visually detectable, with information that is related so as to produce a plurality of related sets of recordable and recorded medium where each set has a plurality of members that are related to each other as well as to corresponding members of other sets, the system comprising:

• a computer
• for first-transmitting at times a relatively larger data file called a common data file, each common data file to be written in common onto a plurality of corresponding members that are within a plurality of sets of the recordable medium, each of which sets contains a plurality of related members, wherein each different common data file as is associated with the corresponding members of all sets of the recordable medium is communicated only once, and
• for second-transmitting at times a relatively smaller data file called a control file, each control file being uniquely associated with an individual one of the multiplicity of the recordable medium, and
• for third-transmitting at least one of a name of the information written upon the multiplicity of recorded media or medium, a designated recipient of the multiplicity of recorded media or medium when such are to be distributed, a packing list of all related recorded media or medium likewise to be so distributed when any such are, and an authenticating production number that is separated from the read permanent serial number;
• a serial-number reader for reading the visually detectable unique permanent serial number marking that is upon a particular one of the multiplicity of recordable medium next to be recorded by the writer;
• and
• a writer of recordable medium including a cache memory, the writer
• for first-receiving each common data file first-transmitted from the computer,
• for caching in the cache memory each common data file first-received for a time period until all corresponding members of each of the plurality of sets of the recordable medium have been written, at which time another, subsequent, common data file is first-received and cached, and
• for second-receiving each unique control file second-transmitted from the computer,
• for third-receiving the read visually detectable unique permanent serial number from the serial-number reader,
• for fourth-receiving the name of the information written upon the multiplicity of recorded media or medium, the designated recipient of the multiplicity if recorded media or medium when such are to be distributed, the packing list of all related recorded media or medium likewise to be so distributed when any such are, the an authenticating production number that is separated from the read permanent serial number from the computer,
• for combining each such (1) control file with (2) a cached common data file and with (3) at least any two or more of (3a) the read permanent serial number of the next one of the multiplicity of recordable medium next to be recorded (3b) a name of the information written upon the multiplicity of recorded media or medium, (3c) a designated recipient of the multiplicity if recorded media or medium when such are to be distributed, (3d) a packing list of all related recorded media or medium likewise to be so distributed when any such are, and (3d) an authenticating production number that is separated from the read permanent serial number, all to create a single unique record image, and
• for writing each individual one of the multiplicity of the recordable medium with a corresponding individually unique record image, first corresponding members of each of the plurality of sets of the multiplicity of the recordable medium being recorded before second corresponding members of each of the plurality of sets and so on until all of the members of all of the plurality of sets of the multiplicity of the recordable medium have been recorded;
• wherein a data communication bandwidth from the computer to the writer of recordable medium is conserved because the relatively larger common data file that is written to corresponding members of each of the plurality of sets of the multiplicity of the recordable medium is communicated from the computer to the writer only but once;
• wherein the recording by the writer of the recordable medium now records a redundant serial number, equal to the permanent serial number, upon each one of the multiplicity of recordable medium;
• wherein the unique permanent serial number marking that was, and that remains, visually detectable on each one of the multiplicity of recordable medium is also recorded as a redundant serial number on the same recordable and recorded medium;
• wherein the each redundant recorded serial number may subsequently be read by a machine means for reading information recorded on the recordable and recorded medium, which machine means need not, cannot, and does not optically detect the permanent serial number.

A method writing upon the multiplicity of successive times a multiplicity of recordable medium each of which is initially undifferentiated and unidentifiable one to the next save only for a permanent serial number marking that is visually detectable, and labeling the multiplicity of recordable medium so written, the writing and labeling method comprising:

• successively reading, in an optical reader of a visually detectable permanent serial number marking that is upon each of the multiplicity of recordable medium, at least any two or more of (1) a permanent serial number of each successive next one of the multiplicity of recordable mediums next to be recorded, (2) a name of the information written upon the multiplicity of recorded media or medium, (3) a designated recipient of the multiplicity if recorded media or medium when such are to be distributed, (4) a packing list of all related recorded media or medium likewise to be so distributed when any such are, and (5) an authenticating production number that is separated from the read permanent serial number, a serial number of each successive ones of a multiplicity of recordable mediums;
• successively combining at least any two or more of (1) each read permanent serial number of the next one of the multiplicity of recordable medium next to be recorded, (2) a name of the information written upon the multiplicity of recorded media or medium, (3) a designated recipient of the multiplicity if recorded media or medium when such are to be distributed, (4) a packing list of all related recorded media or medium likewise to be so distributed when any such are, and (5) an authenticating production number that is separated from the read permanent serial number, a serial number of each successive ones of a multiplicity of recordable mediums with data to be written onto recordable mediums so as to create successive single record images, each of which record images is unique at least for including a serial number;
• successively writing with a writer of the recordable medium each individual one of the multiplicity of recordable mediums with its corresponding individually unique record image;
• wherein the permanent serial number marking that was, and that still remains, visually detectable on the recordable medium is also now redundantly recorded on the same recordable and recorded medium as a redundant serial number;
• reading, in a machine means for reading information recorded on the recordable and recorded medium, which machine means need not and cannot and does not serve to detect the visually-detectable permanent serial number of the recordable and recorded medium, selected information, including the redundant serial number, now recorded upon a recordable and recorded medium now;
• and
• printing, in a label-making machine, a human-readable label suitable in size and form to be attached to the recordable and recorded medium, which label contains selected control information including the redundant serial number as read;
• and
• attaching the printed label to the associated one of the multiplicity of recordable and recorded medium;
• wherein a human may correlate (i) the visually detectable redundant serial number information appearing upon the label with (ii) the visually detectable permanent serial number marking appearing upon the recordable and recorded medium, so as to thereby also conclude that the selected control information also then detectable on the label is truly, properly, associated with an individual physical one of the multiplicity of recordable and recorded medium to which the label is now attached;
• wherein a degree of security in labeling of a machine-readable medium is attained.

A method of writing at and upon a multiplicity of successive times data and pointers to a multiplicity of recordable discs so as to create a multi-volume set of recorded-data discs wherein the pointers permit indexed machine usage of the set as single entity, the method of writing data and pointers to discs comprising:

• segmenting in a computer a data file that is larger than the data storage capacity of a disc into disc-size segmented data files while generating (i) a table containing pointers to all segmented portions of the data file, plus (ii) a number N of separate discs required to record the aggregate segmented data files;
• communicating the segmented data files successively, and also the table containing pointers, and also the number N of discs required, from the computer to a disc writer;
• developing in the disc writer a sequence, or volume, number (1-N) for each disc to be written;
• successively recording in the disc writer each of N discs each with (i) an associated, successively communicated one, of the segmented data files, plus (ii) the complete table containing pointers, plus (iii) the total number N of discs, plus (iv) the associated developed volume number 1-N;
• wherein the successively recorded discs as form a set are usable as a single entity because any one member of the set can be read subsequent to its recordation;
• so as to tell by reference to the table containing pointers recorded therein which particular volume 1-N of the set contains the data to which an indexed read reference is being made even should the member 1 of N presently being read not itself be that volume,
• and even should, by happenstance or by selection, the member 1 of N presently being read be indeed the volume 1-N which actually contains the data to which an indexed read reference is being made, then so as to tell that actual data to which an indexed read reference is being made;
• wherein the set of discs carries, in each and every member of the set, its own table containing pointers by which table containing pointers in conjunction with the volume number an indexed reference may be had to all the members of the set;
• wherein no reference needs be made to any index or pointers outside of, and not present on, the set of discs themselves in order to make indexed reference to the entire data file as is contained upon all the discs of the set.

An automated method

• of writing, and distributing to each of a plurality of recipients, a multiplicity of digital-data-bearing mediums that form a set, the multiple members of each set and the corresponding members of each of a plurality of sets containing related information, and
• of having each recipient confirm to a central authority its receipt of an associated multiplicity of digital-data-bearing mediums that form a set,
• wherein no recipient is required to make visual reference to the numbers or correctness of the members of its set received in order that the central authority receiving the confirmations may know which, and all, data discs are received by which, and all, of the recipients thereof,
• the automated method of data distribution comprising;
• transmitting at times from a computer to a writer of recordable digital-data-bearing mediums each of
• a relatively larger data file called a common data file, each common data file to be written in common onto a plurality of corresponding members that are within a each of a plurality of recordable digital-data-bearing mediums that form a set, wherein each different common data file as is associated with the corresponding members of all sets of the mediums is communicated only once, and
• a relatively smaller data file called a control file, each control file being uniquely associated with and to be uniquely written to an individual one of the multiplicity of the mediums, each control file containing (i) a set identification of the unique set within which that particular medium to which the control file will be written is contained, (ii) a set member identification of the position within its set of that particular medium to which the control file will be written, (iii) an intended recipient of the disc, and (iv) a packing list of all the plurality of mediums that are within that set that will contain that particular medium to which the control file will be written;
• receiving in the writer of the mediums each common data file and each unique control file transmitted from the computer;
• caching in the writer of the mediums each common data file received for a time period until all corresponding members of each of the plurality of sets of the mediums have been written, at which time another, subsequent, common data file is received and cached,
• combining each such control file with a cached common data file to create a single unique record image,
• writing in the writer of the mediums each individual one of the multiplicity of the mediums with a corresponding individually unique record image, first corresponding members of each of the plurality of sets of the multiplicity of mediums being recorded before second corresponding members of each of the plurality of sets and so on,
• continuing in the writer of the mediums the receiving, caching, combining and the writing until all of the members of all of the plurality of sets of the multiplicity of mediums have been recorded;
• and
• reading in a first machine reader of the written medium the control file of each of the multiplicity of mediums to ascertain the (iii) intended recipient, and (iv) packing list;
• distributing as best as possible all ones of the multiplicity of mediums directed to each recipient from the location of the machine reader to each and every intended recipient, it being countenanced and possible that some of the individual mediums will be any of improperly dispatched, mis-delivered as between recipients and lost;
• reading, in a plurality of second machine readers of the mediums located at the plurality of recipients, the set, whether complete or incomplete or correct or incorrect, of mediums received by that recipient to ascertain (i) the set identification, (ii) the set member, (iii) the intended recipient of the disc, and (iv) the packing list, and generating a report of this information plus (v) the identity of the recipient;
• transmitting the report generated at each of the recipients to a central authority that is informed of a master distribution record of the totality of the multiplicity of mediums written, and to what recipients each medium was directed;
• comparing the reports as are received from the plurality of recipients at the central authority to the master distribution record in order to ascertain which, if any, of the mediums have been misdirected and received by a recipient other than the intended recipient, or have been lost and not received by any recipient of all such.