Patent ID: 8010557

Claim:
A fixed length data retrieving apparatus, comprising: retrieving instruction processor that executes a specified process for an inputted retrieving instruction including an instruction code expressing an instruction for a retrieval and a search key for providing an output, wherein the search key is the same data as fixed length data that is to be searched for, and wherein the retrieving instruction processor outputs an index of a pointer table by using a higher m bit or bits of the search key; a pointer table memory for storing the pointer table to be read by using, as an index, an output value from the retrieving instruction processor or pointer processor; the pointer processor to execute a specified process by using a pointer value outputted from the pointer table memory, the output of the retrieving instruction processor, and a comparison result outputted from comparator to output an address corresponding to the search key; a database memory for storing a fixed length data table, which is addressed by an output of the pointer processor, maintaining at least any data of data necessary for the retrieval corresponding to fixed length data or data which is necessary for the retrieval, and many pieces of the fixed length data; the comparator to compare a plurality of pieces of the fixed length data stored in the fixed length data table and the search key of the inputted retrieving instruction by a specified method, and when the comparison result is a match, outputting a match result and user data of the matching fixed length data as a retrieval result; and table manager for changing the pointer table and the fixed length data table for an inputted table management instruction.