Data file management in shift-register memories

ABSTRACT

The paper proposes a shift-register memory, structured as a two-dimensional array of uniform shift-register loops which are linked by flow-steering switches, whose switch control scheme is tailored to perform with great efficiency data management operations on sequentially organized files. The memory operates in a linear input/output mode to perform record insertion, deletion, and relocation on an existing file, and in a sublinear mode for rapid internal file movement to expedite file positioning and record retrieval and update operations. The memory, implemented as a large capacity charge-coupled device or magnetic domain memory, permits efficient data management on very large databases at the level of secondary storage and lends itself to applications as a universal disk replacement, particularly in database computers.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.3 INFORMATION STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL
      H.3.2 Information Storage
          Subjects: File organization

General Terms:
Design, Management

Keywords:
LIFO/FIFO operation modes, data transformations, deletion, insertion, management of sequentially organized files, record retrieval, relocation, shift-register memories, updating