US 5,963,961 A · Database reconstruction using embedded database backup codes

Abstract

Files are stored along with embedded codes containing information useful in reconstructing a failed database that normally contains information about the files. Multiple user files are stored in the form of a managed file, identified by a managed filename. Storage of the managed file includes a number of sub-steps, among them the generation and storage of a first frame marker including a recognition pattern, the managed filename, a next-frame locator, and a sequence number distinguishing the first frame marker from other frame markers. Next, a self-describing header is generated and stored adjacent to the first frame marker. A first one of the user files is stored adjacent to the self-describing header. The self-describing header and following user file are exclusively associated with each other, and the header contains certain information about the adjacent user file. Storage of the user file and self-describing header may be punctuated by one or more intermittent frame markers, which are preferably stored at fixed intervals along the managed file. The sequence of storing a self-describing header, a user file, and any intermittent frame markers is repeated until a predetermined condition is satisfied, such as reaching the last user file for inclusion in the managed file. Then, a table-of-contents is generated and stored substantially adjacent the last user file. A frame trailer is then stored substantially adjacent the table-of-contents, the frame trailer containing information representing the position of the table-of-contents. Another aspect of the invention concerns database reconstruction using information including the embedded codes.

Claims52

Dependent claims

A method of storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, the method comprising:

storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
storing multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
and
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents.

9 more elements

A method for collecting information from source data stored on a recording medium for use in constructing a database describing the data;

where the source data comprises:
multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
and
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents;
the method comprising:
locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern;
finding the final frame marker by repeatedly:
reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker;
in response to finding the final frame marker:
reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents;
and
positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers.

18 more elements

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, the method comprising:

storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
storing multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
and
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents.

9 more elements

A signal-bearing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for collecting self-describing information from source data stored on a recording medium for use in constructing a database describing the data, where the source data comprises:

multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
and
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents;
the method comprising:
locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern;
finding the final frame marker by repeatedly:
reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker;
in response to finding the final frame marker:
reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents;
and
positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers.

17 more elements

A data storage subsystem, comprising:

a data storage;
a digital data processor, programmed to perform a method of storing machine-readable data on a data storage medium, the method comprising:
storing multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
storing multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
storing a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
storing multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
and
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents.

11 more elements

A data storage subsystem, comprising:

a data storage containing source data, including:
multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
and
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position the table-of-contents;
the method comprising:
locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern;
finding the final frame marker by repeatedly:
reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker;
in response to finding the final frame marker:
reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents;
and
positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers.

18 more elements

A data storage subsystem, comprising:

a means for storing source data that includes:
multiple user files in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
multiple self-describing headers, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files the, table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
and
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents;
the method comprising:
locating a first one of the frame markers by running a read sensor past the recording medium to scan for the recognition pattern;
finding the final frame marker by repeatedly:
reading a next-frame locator of the frame where the read sensor is positioned, determining a position of the next frame marker using the read next-frame locator, advancing the read sensor to the determined position of the next frame marker, and reading the next frame marker to determine whether this is the final frame marker;
in response to finding the final frame marker:
reading from the final frame marker the information representing the position of the table-of-contents;
and
positioning the read sensor at the position of the table-of-contents and reading the table-of-contents including the information representing the positions of the self-describing headers.

18 more elements

An article of manufacture comprising:

a data storage medium;
machine-readable digital data tangibly embodied by the data storage medium the data including:
a managed file, having a managed filename, the managed file comprising multiple user files stored in a substantially contiguous arrangement;
multiple self-describing headers each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
a table-of-contents following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
multiple frame markers, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
and
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents.

11 more elements

An article of manufacture, prepared by a process comprising:

forming a digital data storage medium;
storing multiple user files upon the medium in substantially contiguous arrangement, the user files forming a managed file having a managed filename;
storing multiple self-describing headers upon the medium, each self-describing header substantially immediately preceding an associated user file and including predetermined information about that user file;
storing a table-of-contents upon the medium following a last one of the user files, the table-of-contents containing information representing positions of the self-describing headers;
and
storing multiple frame markers upon the medium, each including:
a predetermined recognition pattern;
the managed filename;
and
a sequence indicator representing a sequence of the frame marker relative to other frame markers associated with the managed filename;
a next-frame locator containing information representing a position of a next frame marker;
wherein the frame markers are placed at a beginning of the managed file, at an end of the table-of-contents, and within the substantially contiguous arrangement;
and
wherein a final one of the frame markers includes indicia identifying the frame marker as the final one and additionally includes information representing a position of the table-of-contents.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Database reconstruction using embedded database backup codes

Life of this patent

Database reconstruction using embedded database backup codes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims52