Bulk deletion through segmented files

A data processing system comprising:

• a bus system;
• a communications system connected to the bus system;
• a memory connected to the bus system, wherein the memory includes a set of instructions;
• and
• a processing unit connected to the bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the set of instructions to receive a request for automatic deletion of segments in a container, wherein the container is exactly one file;
• determine a waterline for the container, wherein the waterline is a value, and wherein the value is based on a first retention decay curve of a given segment, and wherein the first retention decay curve is a decreasing mathematical function of the value over time, and wherein the value is a minimum value to retain a segment within a plurality of segments in the container;
• determine if at least one segment value within a plurality of segment values in the container falls below the waterline;
• and automatically delete at least one segment associated with the at least one segment value from the container in response to the at least one segment value falling below the waterline, wherein:
• the value is selected from a first range of numbers between and including a first real number and a second real number;
• the at least one segment value within the plurality of segment values is selected from a second range of numbers between and including a third real number and a fourth real number;
• the first real number is a lowest number of the first range of numbers;
• the second real number is a highest number of the first range of numbers;
• the third real number is a lowest number of the second range of numbers;
• the fourth real number is a highest number of the second range of numbers;
• the first real number, the second real number, the third real number, and the fourth real number are real numbers other than dates;
• the first real number and the second real number included in the range of numbers are on the first retention decay curve;
• the third real number and the fourth real number included in the second range of numbers are on a second retention decay curve;
• the second range of numbers is selected from the group consisting of the first range of numbers and another range of numbers different from the first range of numbers;
• and
• the second retention decay curve is selected from the group consisting of the first retention decay curve and another retention decay curve different from the first retention decay curve.

A computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer readable medium including computer usable program code for bulk deletion through segmented files, the computer usable program code including:
• computer usable program code for receiving a request for automatic deletion of segments in a container, wherein the container is exactly one file;
• computer usable program code for determining a waterline for the container, wherein the waterline is a value, and wherein the value is based on a first retention decay curve of a given segment, and wherein the first retention decay curve is a decreasing mathematical function of the value over time, and wherein the value is a minimum value to retain a segment within a plurality of segments in the container;
• computer usable program code for determining if at least one segment value within a plurality of segment values in the container falls below the waterline;
• and
• computer usable program code for automatically deleting at least one segment associated with the at least one segment value from the container in response to the at least one segment value falling below the waterline, wherein:
• the value is selected from a first range of numbers between and including a first real number and a second real number;
• the at least one segment value within the plurality of segment values is selected from a second range of numbers between and including a third real number and a fourth real number;
• the first real number is a lowest number of the first range of numbers;
• the second real number is a highest number of the first range of numbers;
• the third real number is a lowest number of the second range of numbers;
• the fourth real number is a highest number of the second range of numbers;
• the first real number, the second real number, the third real number, and the fourth real number are real numbers other than dates;
• the first real number and the second real number included in the range of numbers are on the first retention decay curve;
• the third real number and the fourth real number included in the second range of numbers are on a second retention decay curve;
• the second range of numbers is selected from the group consisting of the first range of numbers and another range of numbers different from the first range of numbers;
• and
• the second retention decay curve is selected from the group consisting of the first retention decay curve and another retention decay curve different from the first retention decay curve.