System and method for FBA formatted disk mapping and variable-length CKD formatted data record retrieval

Apparatus for transforming and mapping variable-length CKD formatted data records onto fixed block disk drives, and for retrieving a requested data record stored on a fixed block disk drive, comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records, each of said variable-length CKD formatted data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion;
• means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming the plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records to a fixed block format, and for storing the plurality of fixed block format data records on one or more fixed block disk drives;
• means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a plurality of record locator indices, each of said plurality of record locator indices associated with one of said plurality of data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of said plurality of data records stored on said one or more fixed block disk drives, and also including means for transforming and encoding said plurality of record locator indices and record identification portions to produce encoded information reduced in length in comparison to the length of said record identification portions and record locator indices;
• semiconductor memory, for storing said encoded information in a record locator table;
• means for requesting access to said requested data record, and for providing a record identification portion corresponding to said requested data record;
• mean, responsive to said means for requesting access to said requested data record, for searching said record locator table stored in said semiconductor memory, for decoding from said encoded information an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record;
• and
• record retrieval means, responsive to said means for searching, for retrieving from said one or more fixed block disk drives, said requested data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record.

A method for transforming and storing variable-length CKD formatted data records onto one or more fixed block architecture (FBA) disk drives, and for retrieving a requested data record stored on one or more of said fixed block architecture disk drives, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records, each of said variable-length CKD formatted data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion;
• storing to said one or more fixed block architecture (FBA) disk drives, said plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records, said step of storing including:
• transforming said plurality of variable-length CKD formatted data records from a CKD format to an FBA format, and storing the plurality of data records in the FBA format on said one or more FBA disk drives;
• generating a plurality of record locator indices;
• each of the plurality of record locator indices corresponding to one of the plurality of data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the plurality of data records stored on said one or more FBA disk drives;
• transforming and encoding the record locator indices and record identification portions to produce encoded information in a record locator table, said encoded information being reduced in length in comparison to said record locator indices and associated record identification portions;
• storing said record locator table in memory;
• searching said record locator table stored in memory, for locating one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record;
• and
• retrieving from said one or more FBA disk drives, said requested data record as directed by said one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record.

A method for transforming and storing variable-length data records onto fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium, and for retrieving a requested data record stored on said FBA formatted storage medium, comprising the steps of:

• receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion;
• storing to said FBA formatted storage medium, said plurality of variable-length data records, said step of storing including:
• transforming said plurality of variable-length data records to an FBA format, and storing the plurality of data records in the FBA format on said FBA formatted storage medium;
• generating a plurality of record locator indices;
• each of the plurality of record locator indices corresponding to one of the plurality of data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of the plurality of data records stored on said FBA formatted storage medium;
• transforming and encoding the record locator indices and record identification portions to produce encoded information in a record locator table, said encoded information being reduced in length in comparison to said record locator indices and associated record identification portions;
• and
• storing said record locator table in memory;
• searching said record locator table stored in memory, for locating one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record;
• and
• retrieving from said FBA formatted storage medium, said requested data record as directed by said one of the record locator indices corresponding to said requested data record.

Apparatus for retrieving a requested variable-length data record stored on fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records;
• means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming and storing said plurality of variable-length data records on said FBA formatted storage medium:
• means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records, for uniquely identifying the location of each of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said FBA formatted storage medium;
• mapping means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices in a record locator table, and in response to a request for access to said requested variable-length data record, for searching said record locator table for obtaining an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record;
• record retrieval means for retrieving from said FBA formatted storage medium said requested variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said requested variable-length data record;
• and
• wherein said means for generating includes means for transforming and encoding a combination of said record locator indices and associated record identification portions to produce encoded information stored in said record locator table, so that the encoded information in said record locator table is reduced in length in comparison to said record locator indices and associated record identification portions.

Apparatus for transforming, storing, and mapping variable-length data records on fixed block architecture (FBA) formatted storage medium comprising:

• means for receiving a plurality of variable-length data records, each of said variable-length data records including at least a record identification portion and a data portion:
• means, responsive to said means for receiving, for transforming and storing said plurality of variable-length data records on said FBA formatted storage medium;
• means, responsive to said means for transforming and storing, for generating a corresponding plurality of record locator indices, each of said corresponding plurality of record locator indices being associated with one of said plurality of variable-length data records and a corresponding record identification portion, for uniquely identifying the location of each of said plurality of variable-length data records stored on said FBA formatted storage medium;
• memory storage means, for storing at least said plurality of record locator indices and the associated record identification portions in a record locator table;
• means, responsive to a request for access to a specified variable-length data record, for searching said record locator table for obtaining an associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said specified variable-length data record, and retrieving from said FBA formatted storage medium said specified variable-length data record as directed by said associated one of said record locator indices corresponding to said specified variable-length data record;
• and
• wherein said means for generating includes means for transforming and encoding a combination of said record locator indices and associated record identification portions to produce recorded information stored in said record locator table in said memory storage means, so that the encoded information in said record locator table is reduced in length in comparison to said record locator indices and associated record identification portions.