Sort and merge functions with input and output procedures
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsTsuneo Horiguchi, Richard Kirchhofer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method, apparatus, and program storage device for supporting improved record processing protocols for COBOL SORT and MERGE functions using input and output procedures in an object program. The SORT and MERGE functions include protocols for obtaining all of the input records via an input procedure in the object program and storing them into a memory area before performing the sort or merge steps of the SORT or MERGE function. Similarly, the SORT and MERGE functions store their results into a memory area before invoking the output procedure in the object program. Also, the present invention provides an optional overflow file which is used if the memory capacity is inadequate to store and retrieve all of the requisite data.
Claims15
A method of processing input data to produce output data in a computer having a memory and coupled to a data storage device, the method comprising the steps of:
- activating a data processing function in the computer for controlling the processing of data;
- the data processing function transferring control to an input function in the computer for retrieving all input data into the memory of the computer prior to performing the data processing function;
- performing the data processing function on the input data in the memory of the computer after receiving control from the input function when it has completed, wherein the performing step further comprises the steps of generating output data and storing the output data in the memory of the computer;
- the data processing function transferring control to an output function in the computer for retrieving all of the output data from the memory of the computer and storing the output data prior to terminating the data processing function;
- and
- terminating the data processing function after receiving control from the output function when it has completed.
An apparatus for processing input data to produce output data, comprising:
- (a) a computer having a memory and coupled to a data storage device;
- (b) means, performed by the computer, for performing a data processing function in the computer, wherein the data processing function controls processing of data and further comprises means for transferring control to an input function in the computer for retrieving all input data into the memory of the computer prior to performing the data processing function, means for generating output data after receiving control from the input function, means for storing the output data in the memory of the computer, means for transferring control to an output function in the computer for retrieving all of the output data from the memory of the computer and storing the output data prior to terminating the data processing function, and means for terminating the data processing function after receiving control from the output function when it has completed.
A program storage device, readable by a computer having a memory and coupled to a data storage device, tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps of processing input data to produce output data, the method comprising the steps of:
- activating a data processing function in the computer for controlling processing of data;
- the data processing function transferring control to an input function in the computer for retrieving all input data into the memory of the computer prior to performing the data processing function;
- performing the data processing function on the input data in the memory of the computer after receiving control from the input function when it has completed, wherein the performing step further comprises the steps of generating output data and storing the output data in the memory of the computer;
- the data processing function transferring control to an output function in the computer for retrieving all of the output data from the memory of the computer and storing the output data prior to terminating the data processing function;
- and
- terminating the data processing function after receiving control from the output function when it has completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.