Error detection and recovery of database files

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein said record code is arranged in one of said fields of each of said records.

Claim 4

The method of claim 1 wherein said memo code is arranged at a beginning of each of said memo.

Claim 5

The method of claim 1 wherein the record code is identical to all records when said memos are not present.

Claim 6

The method of claim 1 wherein said records and said memos are arranged within a single database file, said record file and said memo file thus referring to the same said database file.

Claim 7

The method of claim 1 wherein each record code comprises a record indicator combined together with a record identifier, where the record indicator is identical for all records and where the record identifier uniquely identifies each record; and when memos are present, wherein each memo code comprises a memo indicator combined together with a memo identifier, where the memo identifier is identical to the record identifier of the record associated with the memo, and where the memo code indicator is identical for identical record fields across different records, and furthermore where the memo code indicator is unique for any one record field within any one record.

Claim 8

The method of claim 6 wherein the memo code indicator comprises a name.

Claim 9

The method of claim 6 wherein said record code identifier is furthermore used for identifying the original sequence of said records.

Claim 10

The method of claim 6 wherein said records and said memos are arranged within a single database file, said record file and said memo file thus referring to the same said database file.

Claim 11

An improved method for detecting corruption in the file integrity of uniquely encoded database files in a computer system, said database files consisting of a record file and an optional memo file comprising a number of memos, said record file comprising a number of uniquely identified records having one or more record fields, where each record field furthermore may be optionally associated with information contained in said memo file, the associated record field having a memo pointer referencing a specific memo in said memo file, each said record having a unique record code, each said memo having a unique memo code for identifying the association of said memo to one particular record field and to one uniquely identified record when memos are present, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating said record codes in record file and checking if said record codes are in correct positions in said record file, and if said memos are present, comprising further the steps of: b) locating said memo codes in said memo file and checking if said memo codes are in correct positions in said memo file, and c) locating said memo pointers in said record file and checking if said memo pointers reference memos having correct memo code.

Claim 12

An improved method for detecting corruption in the file integrity of uniquely encoded database files in a computer system, said database files consisting of a record file and an optional memo file comprising a number of memos, said record file comprising a number of uniquely identified records having one or more record fields, where each record field furthermore may be optionally associated with information contained in said memo file, the associated record field having a memo pointer referencing a specific memo in said memo file, each said record having a unique record code, each said memo having a unique memo code for identifying the association of said memo to one particular record field and to one uniquely identified record when memos are present, the method comprising the steps of: a) locating said record codes in record file and checking if said record codes are in correct positions in said record file, and if said memos are present, comprising further the steps of: b) locating said memo codes in said memo file and checking if said memo codes are in correct positions in said memo file, and c) locating said memo pointers in said record file and checking if said memo pointers reference memos having correct memo code.

Claim 13

The method of claim 10 wherein the record code is identical all records when said memos are not present.

Claim 14

The method of claim 10 wherein said records and said memos are arranged within a single database file, said record file and said memo file thus referring to the same said database file.

Claim 15

An improved method for restoring the file integrity of uniquely encoded database files in a computer system, after said database files become corrupted, said database files consisting of a record file and an optional memo file comprising a number of memos, said record file comprising a number of uniquely identified records having one or more record fields, where each record field furthermore may be optionally associated with information contained in said memo file, the associated record field having a memo pointer referencing a specific memo in said memo file, each said record having a unique record code, each said memo having a unique memo code for identifying the association of said memo to one particular record field and to one uniquely identified record when memos are present, said method comprising the steps of: (a) rewriting said record file to arrange said records having said record codes in desired structural positions when said record file is corrupt, and when said memos are present, comprising further the steps of: (b) rewriting said memo file to arrange said memos having said memo codes in desired structural positions when said memo file is corrupt, and (c) for each said memo pointer in said record referencing a memo with incorrect memo code, searching in said memo file for the matching memo code corresponding to said record code of said record and rewriting said pointer to point to a corresponding memo when said matching memo code is found.

Claim 16

An improved method for restoring the file integrity of uniquely encoded database files in a computer system, after said database files become corrupted, said database files consisting of a record file and an optional memo file comprising a number of memos, said record file comprising a number of uniquely identified records having one or more record fields, where each record field furthermore may be optionally associated with information contained in said memo file, the associated record field having a memo pointer referencing a specific memo in said memo file, each said record having a unique record code, each said memo having a unique memo code for identifying the association of said memo to one particular record field and to one uniquely identified record when memos are present, said method comprising the steps of: (a) rewriting said record file to arrange said records having said record codes in desired structural positions when said record file is corrupt, and when said memos are present, comprising further the steps of: (b) rewriting said memo file to arrange said memos having said memo codes in desired structural positions when said memo file is corrupt, and (c) for each said memo pointer in said record referencing a memo with incorrect memo code, searching in said memo file for the matching memo code corresponding to said record code of said record and rewriting said pointer to point to a corresponding memo when said matching memo code is found.

Claim 17

The method of claim 13 wherein the record code is identical all records when said memos are not present.

Claim 18

The method of claim 13, comprising the further step of rewriting said memo pointer to point to no memo when no memo having a corresponding memo code is found.

Claim 19

The method of claim 13 wherein said records and said memos are arranged within a single database file, said record file and said memo file thus referring to the same said database file.