Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-27
2001-01-09
Homere, Jean R. (Department: 2777)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S960000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173288
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a computer implemented method and apparatus for creating a data structure. More specifically, to a method and apparatus for creating a data structure comprising a non-linear data object with typed data fields and field names from a common gateway interface type input string.
2. Background Art
When writing a common gateway interface (CGI) program to run under a hypertext markup language (HTML) document server, input data to the CGI program comes in one long text string in the format:
“KeyWordName1=value1&KeyWordName2=value2& . . .
KeyWordNameN=valueN”.
This data can be cumbersome to parse into individual values. It is much preferred, for ease of use for many users of computing systems, to present data organized into useful records and fields.
For example, users of IBM AS/400 series machines tend to be most familiar using and viewing data as records and fields in a database. Also, such users are typically familiar with the use of data description specification (DDS) files to organize data into useful records and fields.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a method for organizing CGI input data, using a DDS file description as the template, into useful records and fields; that is, a data structure comprising a non-linear data object with typed data fields and field names derived from a common gateway interface type input string.
It is a further object of the invention to provide in that non-linear data object data which is converted to the proper data type for each field, such as alphanumeric, integer, or decimal.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides an apparatus and method for operating a digital computer to receive an input string including a plurality of text keyword/value pairs; to build from the keyword/value pairs a data structure of converted values without keywords.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a template file listing is provided including for each keyword, the data type and size for the corresponding value; and the data structure is organized to place a converted value within said data structure at an offset determined with reference to the size associated with the keywords in the template file.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, a memory element (such as a computer disk or tape, or other non-volatile memory device), or a transmission medium (such as wire or air) or a volatile memory device (such as main memory) is provided to store or transmit signals which are adaptable to operate a computer in accordance with the processes set forth in the previous paragraphs.
Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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Diedrich Richard Alan
Evans Scott Thomas
Finkenaur James Kevan
Fraley Lawrence R.
Homere Jean R.
International Business Machines - Corporation
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