Method and apparatus for retrieving accumulating and sorting table formatted data

When table-format data is represented as an array of records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field, a method of searching through said table-format data for field values that match specific search conditions,

• said method being characterized in comprising the steps of:
• keeping in a storage device, for each individual field, a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records,
• setting search conditions containing a specific field and the field value to be searched for in said field,
• examining the field value numbers within the corresponding field value number-specifying information array in the order of said records, regarding the field related to said search conditions,
• determining whether or not the field values in said value control table specified by said field value number match said search conditions thus set, and
• accumulating records that match said search conditions as a result set.

When table-format data is represented as an array of records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field, a method of tabulating said table-format data,

• said method being characterized in comprising the steps of:
• if n represents an integer equal to 1 or greater, for each of n fields used in tabulation, keeping in a storage device individual field information consisting of a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records,
• if i represents an integer in the range 1≦i≦n, for the ith individual information field, the total number of said field value numbers is represented by Ni, ki represents an integer in the range 0≦ki≦Ni−1, M represents an integer equal to 1 or greater, and if m is an integer in the range 1≦m≦M, then initializing elements Pm(k1, k2, . . . , ki, . . . , kn) of n-dimensional M data spaces having a size of N1×N2× . . . ×Ni× . . . ×Nn,
• for said n individual information fields, when j represents an integer in the range 0≦j≦(total number of records)−1, extracting the respective field value numbers stored in the jth position in each field value number-specifying information array, and when the field value number extracted from the ith individual information field is represented by qi, identifying the elements Pm(q1, q2, . . . , qi, . . . , qn) of said data space, and
• processing said identified values of the elements Pm(q1, q2, . . . , qi, . . . , qn).

When table-format data is represented as an array of records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field, a method of tabulating said table-format data,

• said method being characterized in comprising the steps of:
• if n represents an integer equal to 1 or greater, for each of n fields used in tabulation, keeping in a storage device individual field information consisting of a value control table containing field values for that field and the category number of said field value corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records,
• if i represents an integer in the range 1≦i≦n, for the ith individual information field, the total number of either said field value numbers or said category numbers is represented by Ni, ki represents an integer in the range 0≦ki≦Ni−1, M represents an integer equal to 1 or greater, and if m is an integer in the range 1<m<M, then initializing elements Pm(k1, k2, ki, . . . , kn) of n-dimensional M data spaces having a size of N1×N2× . . . ×Ni× . . . ×Nn,
• for said n individual information fields, when j represents an integer in the range 0≦j≦(total number of records)−1, extracting the respective field value numbers stored in the jth position in each field value number-specifying information array, and when the field value number extracted from the ith individual information field or the category number stored corresponding to said field value number in the value control table of said ith individual information field is represented by qi, identifying the elements Pm(q1, q2, . . . , qi, . . . qn) of said data space, and
• processing said identified values of the elements Pm(q1, q2, . . . , qi, . . . , qn).

When table-format data is represented as an array of records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field, an apparatus for searching for and tabulating said table-format data,

• said apparatus being characterized in comprising:
• a storage device for keeping, for each individual field, a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records,
• field value number acquisition means for acquiring from said field value number-specifying information array kept on said storage device the field value number corresponding to said specific record, and
• field value obtaining means for obtaining from the field values stored in said value control table kept on said storage device the field value corresponding to the field value number acquired as above.

When table-format data is represented as an array of records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field, a computer-readable storage medium upon which is recorded a program for searching for and tabulating said table-format data,

• said storage medium being recorded with a program characterized in comprising:
• a step of keeping in a storage device, for each individual field, a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records,
• a step of acquiring from said field value number-specifying information array kept on said storage device the field value number corresponding to said specific record, and
• a step of obtaining from the field values stored in said value control table kept on said storage device the field value corresponding to the field value number acquired as above.

When table-format data is represented as an array of records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field, a computer-readable storage medium upon which is recorded a program for searching through said table-format data for records that contain a field value that matches search conditions,

• said program being characterized in comprising:
• a step of keeping in a storage device, for each individual field, individual field information such that includes a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records, and a record identification information array storing in exclusive areas for each of said field value numbers one or more pieces of record identification information related to identical field value numbers, and said value control table includes, for each of said field value numbers, record identification information-specifying information that indicates the area where said one or more pieces of record identification information related to identical field value numbers in said record identification information array, and
• a step of using said record identification information-specifying information corresponding to field value numbers related to field values within the field values contained in said value control table that match said search conditions, to acquire record identification information from said record identification information array that matches said search conditions.

A sorting method whereby an array of record identification information specifying records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field is rearranged on a specific field,

• said method being characterized in comprising the steps of:
• keeping in a storage device, for each individual field, a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records,
• the value control table further including record identification information-specifying information that, corresponding to said field value number, indicates the area in said record identification information-specifying information array where said one or more pieces of record identification information regarding identical field value numbers are stored,
• for each of said records, associating said record identification information with field value numbers corresponding to the field values of said fields,
• for each of said field value numbers, defining the storage location after reordering said record identification information,
• sequentially extracting said record identification information from said array,
• determining said field value number corresponding to said record identification information thus extracted,
• storing said record identification information thus extracted in said storage location according to the record identification information-specifying information corresponding to the field value number thus determined, and
• updating said storage location where said record identification information is to be stored, in order to store the next record identification information.

A sorting apparatus that rearranges an array of record identification information specifying records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field on a specific field,

• said apparatus being characterized in comprising:
• a storage device for keeping, for each individual field, a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records,
• the value control table further including record identification information-specifying information that, corresponding to said field value number, indicates the area in said record identification information-specifying information array where said one or more pieces of record identification information regarding identical field value numbers are stored,
• for each of said records, means of associating said record identification information with field value numbers corresponding to the field values of said fields,
• for each of said field value numbers, definition means for defining the storage location after reordering said record identification information,
• field value number determination means for sequentially extracting said record identification information from said array and determining said field value number corresponding to the record identification information thus extracted,
• record identification information storage means for storing said record identification information thus extracted in said storage location according to the record identification information-specifying information corresponding to the field value number thus determined, and
• updating means for updating said storage location where said record identification information is to be stored, in order to store the next record identification information.

A computer-readable storage medium upon which is recorded a sorting program for rearranging on a specific field an array of record identification information specifying records consisting of a plurality of fields containing field values for each field,

• said sorting program being characterized in comprising:
• a step of keeping in a storage device, for each individual field, a value control table containing field values for that field corresponding to a field value number that uniquely identifies said field value, which is a field value number that is common to the various fields and has a stipulated order from an initial value, and a field value number-specifying information array containing information that specifies said field value numbers in the order of said records, wherein the value control table further includes record identification information-specifying information that, corresponding to said field value number, indicates the area in said record identification information-specifying information array where said one or more pieces of record identification information regarding identical field value numbers are stored,
• for each of said records, a step of associating said record identification information with field value numbers corresponding to the field values of said fields,
• for each of said field value numbers, a step of defining the storage location after reordering said record identification information,
• a step of sequentially extracting said record identification information from said array,
• a step of determining said field value number corresponding to said record identification information thus extracted,
• a step of storing said record identification information thus extracted in said storage location according to the record identification information-specifying information corresponding to the field value number thus determined, and
• a step of updating said storage location where said record identification information is to be stored, in order to store the next record identification information.