Abstract:
Improved method involving a series of unique steps for progressively and selectively processing data relative to a multiterminal computer network for storing, analizing and periodically upgrading stored data where the network is made up of one or more user terminals, an n-dimensional multicell memory, an electronically transportable metafile structure of ranked/indexed commands for any terminal user, a common metafile interface interchange agreement and an encoded access arrangement. By reason of each metafile structure being arranged between the interface interchange agreement and any user terminal; and by reason of the encoded access arrangement being arranged between the memory and the interchange arrangement, controlled and authorized access by any terminal user is maintained for reading, interpreting, adding, combining, modifying, etc. any data in the network whether data is from the memory, interchange arrangement or input from a user terminal.

Description:
The invention concerns an improved method involving a series of steps for selectively and progressively processing data in unique fashion between memory means of a multiterminal computer network and a selectively operable user terminal means thereof. And more particularly, it relates to an improved method having a series of steps for selectively and progressively processing data by a multiterminal computer network having a multicell network memory, common metafile interface interchange means, an electronically transportable metafile structure with ranked/indexed commands with different designations and encoded access means. By reasons of these various means in making up a network, authorized access by any user at any terminal is only permitted so that any memory data may be precisely extracted for review, analysis and combined (fused) with other data for the purpose of enhancing and contributing to the memory stored information in meeting mission network requirements. Conversely, any data after being reviewed, etc. by any terminal user can be precisely emplaced in the memory so that the emplaced data can be subsequently extracted in whole or in part in response to commands by any subsequent or current other user of the network. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Various computer systems have been designed in the past for handling and processing data. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,369,742 to Y. Kurosa et al. concerns an image filing and retrieval apparatus and method for carrying out filing and retrieving of data as required. With reference to the species of  FIG. 1 , the apparatus for carrying out the method is generally comprised of a scanner for inputting optical image data to an optical disk for storage. A keyboard is provided for inputting user demand data. A convolution calculating circuit is provided for furnishing weighted or fuzzy logic for facilitating display of stored data in both text and nontext format. However, the reference does not remotely suggest the improved method selecting steps of the instant invention as effected by and for use with a multiterminal computer network (MTCN) means having a novel common metafile interface interchange (CMFII) means, encoded access (EA) means, network memory means and electronically transportable metafile structure (ETMFS) means. Accordingly, any authorized terminal user may selectively access the interface means and/or the memory means upon selecting various ranked/indexed commands of the ETMFS means associated therewith for reviewing and analizing any data including any metadata that stems from the memory means as well as terminal input data from any current terminal user of the MTCN means; all for the benefit of any subsequent or current other user of the MTCN means as well as contributing to mission requirements thereof. Whenever data is to be extracted from the memory means or to be emplaced therein as the result of user selected commands from one or more ETMFS means, EA means provide appropriate code designations for correctly reemplacing the data including metadata in one or more cells of the memory in precise dimensional fashion including the emplacement of any combined or fused data at a dimensional location of one or more cells where such cell dimensions have no data entry to date. Conversely when user commands relative to an ETMFS means extract various data from the memory means, EA means provide appropriate code designations for extracting the data unless some or all of the data is already located at the CMFII means as the result of prior activity by users at one or more terminals and the ETMFS means associated therewith. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   An object of the invention is to provide an improved method for effecting enhanced use of a multi-terminal computer network means by providing a novel common metafile interface interchange means and electronically transportable metafile structure means associated therewith that enables any authorized terminal user of the network to select one or more command functions of the metafile structure means for enabling review and analysis of data stemming from the memory means or interchange means if already extracted from the memory means for the purpose of assisting the terminal user as well as permitting such user to add data relative to one or more command functions of the metafile structure means so as to provide further information relative to a subject for any subsequent or current other user of the network in carrying out the mission thereof. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide an improved method as effected by a multiterminal computer network means provided with common metafile interface interchange means having one or more electronically transportable metafile structure means for connectivity with any network user terminal for enabling an authorized user to review and analize user selected stored data as well as contribute terminal input data whether such data is text data, graphical data or any combination thereof. 
   And still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method having selecting steps for procuring data as effected by a multiterminal computer network means having a network memory means, common metafile interface interchange means, electronically transportable metafile structure means and encoded access means; all of which enable a user at a terminal in selecting various ranked/indexed commands of the metafile structure means to extract or emplace data from or to the memory means in precise dimensional fashion in order to attempt to progressively meet the mission requirements of the network as result of user analysis of extracted data including terminal input data relative to his/her expertise at a network computer terminal. 
   Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved method having a series of command selecting steps for effecting enhanced use of a multiterminal computer network for selectively processing data by providing a novel common metafile interface exchange means having one or more electronically transportable metafile structure means with relational and ranked/ordered user command functions for assisting any authorized terminal user of the network relative to the user data selected for the purpose of reading, adding, deleting data, etc. all for the purpose of attempting to meet mission requirements of the network as well as contributing to the assistance of any subsequent or current other network user. 
   In summary, the improved method involves a series of unique steps for carrying out the selective operation of a multi-terminal computer network as effected by a novel common metafile interface interchange (CMFII) means via one or more electronically transportable metafile structure (ETMFS) means thereof that permits connectivity to any terminal in response to an authorized user threat. As a result of this connectivity by any ETMFS means, processed data of the CMFII means whether from the computer memory or a user terminal input and whether textual, graphic or any combination thereof is readily available for any current other user of the network or any subsequent user thereof in meeting network mission requirements. One of the advantages of the improved method is that the novel interchange means via the ETMFS means thereof provides an architecture of hierarchial order of various command functions and indices all with sufficient definition for any user so as to enable selected access by any authorized user in reviewing and analizing selected data or adding data thereto. Also, the network is comprised of encoded access means for facilitating the extraction or emplacement, in precise dimensional fashion, of data including metadata and fused data from or to the network memory. 
   In view of the foregoing, other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when taken in conjunction with the appended specification, claims and drawings as hereinafter described. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic view in dotted and solid lines (with certain parts broken away) of a multiterminal computer network means; and it illustrates the network means having among other things a common computer metafile interface interchange (CMFII) means and an electronically transportable metafile structure (ETMFS) means; all for the purpose of carrying out the unique steps of the improved method of the invention. 
       FIG. 1A  is an exploded view of the memory as shown in  FIG. 1  with parts added and other parts removed; and it illustrates in depicting the memory as made up of orthogonally related and opposed series of data matrices (chessboards), with each chessboard having parts of memory cells therein. 
       FIG. 1B  is a diagrammatic perspective view and it illustrates a representative encoded access means for the network memory as a pointer having a multivector, data-reference configuration that generates from a common point. 
       FIG. 2  is a representative diagrammatic view of various states of an ETMFS means; and it illustrates these states in progressive and interrelated fashion and in response to an authorized user selected commands at any user terminal means of the network means in carrying out one or more steps of the improved method. 
       FIG. 3  is also a diagrammatic view in dotted and solid lines of a representative multicommand stricture of an ETMFS means as ranked and indexed in directory-like fashion. 
       FIG. 4  is a schematic view of a multiple block configuration format for carrying out various code designations for a Boundary Delimiter Command (BCD) function as generally specified in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 4A  is another schematic view that illustrates another block format and further definition of one of the BCD functions of  FIG. 4 . 
       FIGS. 5-8  are diagrammatic views; with each diagrammatic view being a representative multiple column, row arrangement in block-like configuration as formatted for carrying out various code designations for any given Descriptor Command (DC) function relative to any ETMFS means and as generally specified in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 9  is a diagrammatic view similar to  FIGS. 5-8  but for a terminal user escape command. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic view that illustrates in block format a DC designated VERSION and it illustrates further encoding definition thereof. 
       FIG. 11  is a schematic view of a representative subscription contents table for a subscription DC function as generally specified in  FIGS. 3 and 5 . 
       FIG. 12  is a schematic view of a representative profile object table for a profile object DC function as generally specified in  FIGS. 3 and 9 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   With further reference to  FIG. 1  of the drawings, it illustrates an embodiment for carrying out various steps of the improved method. The embodiment is generally comprised of a multi-terminal computer network means  10  having a series of three user terminals  12 ,  14  and  16  all interconnected by common bus means  18 . In order to facilitate connectivity from any user terminal of the network regardless of any terminal location to a multi-cell or multi-bin memory means  19 , a novel metafile interface interchange (CMFII) means  20 , bus means  21  including encoded access (EA) means therein and an electronically transportable metafile structure (ETMFS) means  22  are provided so that any authorized user at any given terminal of the network has selected access to the CMFII means in carrying out a task for an overall mission of the network. An authorized user at any terminal  12 ,  14  or  16  in response to various ranked/indexed commands of the ETMFS means has selected access to data of the CMFII means or the memory means for causing extraction or emplacement of the selected data from or to the memory means all for enabling review or upgrade of the memory data in meeting network mission requirements. Although only a few cells  19  are shown [by dotted lined] in the memory means, it is to be understood that these cells or bins extend throughout the memory means, with each cell or bin being of corresponding cubicle shape. 
   With reference to  FIG. 1A , multicell memory means  19  is depicted as made up of a series of laterally spaced chessboards  24 ′ in one direction and another series of laterally spaced chessboards  26 ′ extending in another and orthogonal direction relative to series  24 ′. Each memory chessboard  24 ′ or  26 ′ of either series includes various types of data  28 ′,  30 ′,  32 ′,  34 ′,  36 ′,  38 ′ and  40 ′ stored therein, with each stored data  28 ′,  30 ′,  32 ′, etc. usually having an irregular outlined area on any chessboard  24 ′ or  26 ′. Each type of data within its irregular area of any chessboard and each area normally includes more than one memory cell and various parts thereof. Also, each type of data could include various combinations of object data, geographic data, combined (fused data) etc. Because of the extent of various types of data stored throughout memory means  19 , EA means of bus means  21  are required to assure proper emplacement or retraction of data in precise dimensional fashion from or to more than one cell of memory means  19  in response to any command request of any terminal user relative to its associated ETMFS means  22 . Moreover, whenever a metadata request occurs from a terminal user relative to his/her ETMFS means  22 , EA means  21  provides an encoded request in precise fashion that extracts general data from data stored in memory means  19  such as its stored data  32 ′ as exemplified by spaced data points therein for a metadata selection, namely;  42 ′,  44 ′,  48 ′ and  50 ′ as located in more than one chessboard of the series of four chessboards  26 ′ as depicted in  FIG. 1A . Of course, one of the advantages of metadata is that it minimizes bandwidth requirements while at the same time providing a terminal-user general review of certain data in order that correct or desired data can be retrieved for review by a terminal user when once identified by preliminary metadata review technique. 
   In order to assure precise extraction or emplacement of data from or to memory means  19 , a representative multivector, data-reference pointer  52 ′ as encoded access (EA) means for profile object data as processed by any ETMFS means  22  in connection with any user terminal of the computer network is shown in  FIG. 1B . To this end, pointer  52 ′ is comprised of a fused data vector  54 ′, kinematics vector  56 ′, spatial data vector  58 ′, data source vector  60 ′ and temporal data vector  62 ′. As evident from this Figure, each vector has a particular magnitude and direction that is representative of the data to be stored or extracted from memory means  19  as well as how it is to be stored therein both cellwise and one or more data patterns therein such as patterns  28 ′ 30 ′,  32 ′ 34 ′,  36 ′, etc. as aforedescribed. Inasmuch as EA means is part of bus means  21  as well as it stems from CMFII means; the profile object data of any ETMFS means  22  at any terminal can be readily extracted from memory means  19  in response to a terminal user selection of various commands from an ETMFS means  22  as subsequently described with reference to  FIG. 3 . Also, the extracted profile object data with or without modification can again be reemplaced in memory means  19  after any terminal user has reviewed the extracted data including but not limited to selective data deletion, combining of data, adding of terminal input data, etc., all for a terminal user with expertise to contribute to the overall mission requirements of the MTCN means. Hence, it is to be understood that pointer  52 ′ as one EA means is merely representative of one overall profile object data condition as it is being extracted from or emplaced to the memory means. Thus, every pointer by reason of its particular multivector configuration represents the data associated therewith and consequently distinguishes from any other pointer of the EA means for any MTCN means and the data represented by other pointers of the EA means thereof. Moreover, the various designated vectors of pointer  52 ′ constitute various attributes or types of data that make up profile object data from an ETMFS means  22  as either being stored or extracted from memory means  19 . 
   As further evident in  FIG. 2 , various states of an electronically transportable metafile structure (ETMFS) means  17  are generally specified. As exemplified by the series of interconnected circles  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34 ,  36  and  41  various states of an ETMFS means are depicted including the functional relationship between more than one state of ETMFS means  17  during an operative cycle between CMFII means  20  and any user at terminal means  12 ,  14  or  16 . As further exemplified in  FIG. 3 , a representative hierarchial (ranked/indexed) structure  38  of an ETMFS means is depicted. Ranked/indexed structure  38  of an ETMFS means is made up of a series of boundary delimiter commands (BDCs)  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ,  52  and  54 . The other ranked/indexed and separate series of commands under any BDC  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , or  48  concern descriptor commands (DCs). Some of the DCs under any BDC of an ETMFS means are optionable for any authorized user at a terminal means of MTCN means  10  as indicated by encircling dotted lines  56 ,  58 ,  60  and  62 . In other words, these DCs within any dotted line encircled area  56 ,  58 ,  60  or  62  may be selected in whole or in part by any terminal user of the MTCN means during any data processing application by MTCN means  10  at one of its terminal means being accessed by any authorized user thereof. Although not shown in  FIG. 3 , there is an authorized user escape command at any terminal means  12 ,  14 ,  16 , etc. whenever an authorized user for whatever reason wants to escape at any command function level as depicted in  FIG. 3  between the functional BDCs commands of begin ETMFS BDC state  40  and end ETMFS BDC state  54 . For any begin BDC  40 ,  42  or  46  there is always security, metadata and index DCs thereunder. More than one profile command and object DCs as indicated at  62  can be provided for any ETMF means in nested, ranked and indexed relation as required in meeting the requirements of any ETMF means in carrying out the mission requirements of any MTCN terminal means  12 ,  14  or  16 . 
   With further reference to  FIG. 2  after end ETMFS means BDC state  24  for a prior processed ETMFS means has occurred during a previous cycle at a user terminal means of the MTCN means, a begin ETMFS means BDC and DCs state  26  occurs for the next ETMFS means as the result of it being linked to end ETMFS means BDC state  24  by an arrowed begin ETMFS means BDC and DCs link  23 . It is noted here, that before another begin ETMFS means BDC and DCs state can be started in  FIG. 2 , an arrowed end ETMFS means BDC state link  21  from begin ETMFS BDC and DCs state  26  and arrowed end ETMFS means BDC state link  27  from end transport BDC state  36  of an ETMFS means that has been processed by MTCN means  10  must have been received by end ETMFS means BDC state  24 . Similarly, an arrowed begin transport state of ETMFS means BDC link  25  is provided by begin ETMFS BDC and DCs state  26  to begin transport BDC and DCs state  28  of ETMFS means  22 . On the other hand, End transport BDC state  36  in response to a processed ETMFS means thereat provides an arrowed end transport BDC state link  33  to begin transport BDC and DCs state  28 . In other words without this link  33 , begin transport BDC and DCs state  28  would be unable to furnish an arrowed begin transport body state BDC link  29  to begin transport body BDC and DCs state  30  for a begun ETMFS means. 
   A begin profile BDC state link  35  of begun and transported ETMFS means is provided from begin transport body BDC and DCs state  30  to begin profile BDC and DCs state  32 . This begin profile BDC and DCs state  32  receives an arrowed begin profile BDC link  37  to begin profile body BDC and DCs state  34  so long as begin profile body BDC and DCs state  34  provides an arrowed begin profile BDC and DCs state link  37  from begin profile BDC and DCs state  32 . Once begin profile body BDC and DCs state  34  received arrowed link  37 , it provides an arrowed profile command/object DCs state link  41 ′ where such link  41 ′ provides analysis, etc. of one or more DCs of both profile commands and profile objects in response to a terminal user selection for a given ETMFS means  22  until an end profile state  41  occurs. Once begin transport body BDC and DCs state  30  receives begin profile command/object DCs link  43 ′ from end profile state, it provides end transport BDC state link  43  to end transport BDC state  36 . Link  35 ′ at any user terminal  12 ,  14  or  16  indicates to begin profile state BDC and DCs  32  that a prior state BDC and DCs has occurred. Then end transport BDC state  36  of an ETMFS means provides an end ETMFS means BDC state link  27  to end ETMFS means BDC state  24  for ending an ETMFS means cycle before another ETMFS means cycle is begun in response to a user at any terminal means  12 ,  14  or  16  as aforedescribed. Although  FIG. 2  discloses the sequential relationship between various BDCs and DCs, it does not preclude any terminal user from selecting or not selecting discretionary DCs as encircled by dotted lines  56 ,  58 ,  60  and  62  in  FIG. 3 . Inasmuch as each BDC  40 ,  42  or  46  have a metadata DC, any metadata DC electronically encoded designation is such that it minimizes bandwidth requirements in accessing its general reference data of memory means  19  via CMFII  20  in attempting to find particular data for review/analysis. 
   As indicated in  FIG. 4 , all BDCs of the series of BDCs for any ETMFS means  22  have a common state code but each BDC has a different substate code. Depending on the function of any BDC, it may or may not have a command parameter length value. The coded values for any BDC in the table of  FIG. 4  can be further broken down, defined, as required for any such BDC as the representative begin ETMFS means BDC is depicted in  FIG. 4A . In any event, it is evident that any BDC as encoded, such as, e.g., eight bits per byte, is electronically distinguishable from other BDCs so that the BDCs for any ETMFS means as depicted in  FIG. 3  maintain their ranked/indexed order throughout use of the MTCN means. 
   As depicted in  FIGS. 5-8 , DCs for any BDC command as specified are block formatted in similar fashion as the series of BDCs; but each series of DCs under any BDC is encoded with a different and distinctive state code that is distinguishable not only from any other series of DCs state codes but also any BDC state code. Each substrate code for any series of DCs under any BDC is readily distinguishable from any other substrate code of any DC of any series of DCs. Depending on the command parameter length for any DC it will either have a nonzero or specified value. As indicated in  FIG. 9 , the selectively operable, escape command for any terminal user of the MTCN means has state/substate code designations that are distinguishable from any BDC or DC state/substate code values. This command is only effective between the begin and end BDC state  40  and  54  of any ETMFS means  22 . As with the BDC of  FIG. 4A , a version DC is further defined as to its encoding by the block table format depicted in  FIG. 10 . Depending on the DC it may require further definition as the subscription contents table for a subscription DC as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Also, a profile object DC with its particular state/substate codes (not shown) is further defined by the table format as illustrated in  FIG. 12 . 
   While certain representative embodiments of the invention have been discussed above including various details thereof; such has been shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention. Also, it is evident that despite the ranked/indexed order of any command of any ETMFS means  22 , it does not preclude any authorized user at any terminal means of the MTCN means to have selectivity in choosing DCs in carrying out and meeting the task/mission requirements of the MTCN means. Also, the CMFII means in providing the ETMFS means between the CMFII means and any user terminal permits memory stored data to be readily processed at any network terminal while at the same time it permits any terminal processed data to be returned to the CMFII means for either immediate subsequent return to another terminal for further processing or return to the memory means via bus means  21  including EA means therein for storage. At the same time, the EA means in being part of the bus means and stemming from the CMFII means assures proper storage and removal of profile object data in whole or in part in response to a terminal user command all without interfering with interaction between the CMFII means and any network terminal. Consequently, the MTCN means is a highly versatile system while at the same time the metadata DCs of any ETMFS means  22  minimize the bandwidth requirements of the MTCN means in processing data between the memory means and any user terminal. It is to be understood instead of bus means  21  and the particular shape of CMFII means as shown in  FIG. 1 , the CMFII means could be a shell structure encapsulating memory means  19  with appropriate EA means between the inside of the shell means and the encapsulated memory means  19 . Also, bus means  18  can still appropriately interconnect any terminal means and the outer part of the shell means so that ETMF means  22  are connected between any terminal means and the shell means. It is also noted here that the transport and profile states  28  and  32  are interchangeable between any two or more metafile structures  22  without requiring the alteration of any state contained within the profile or transport state. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the method steps disclosed herein may be made as well as various changes for any effect in carrying out any method step as disclosed herein may also be made; all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.