Flexible and error resistant data buffering and connectivity

A data coherency method comprising:

• responsive to a request to add a new data record to a data storage system, reading the data storage at a location identified in the request;
• if an old data record is present at the identified location, reading a flag from the old data record to determine if it is use;
• and,
• upon determining that the old data record is not in use, marking the flag at the old data record as in use, performing a data storage operation upon the identified location as dictated by the new data record and, thereafter, marking the flag as not in use.

A method of buffering data between an upstream system sending data to a buffer and a downstream system obtaining data from the buffer, the method comprising:

• receiving a data record containing a status flag and a position identifier;
• reading the status flag and the position identifier of the received data record;
• and
• searching an existing buffer location associated with the received position identifier, wherein
• when the existing buffer location associated with the received position identifier has an existing record associated with the received position identifier,
• reviewing the condition of a processing flag associated with the existing record and buffering the received data at the buffer location associated with the position identifier when the processing flag indicates that existing data is not being processed;
• reviewing the condition of a status flag of the existing record and the received data record and updating the status flag of the existing record according to a predetermined protocol;
• and
• storing data at the buffer location if the predetermined protocol is satisfied.