WO2005006105A2

WO2005006105A2 - Data recording system and data processing system

Info

Publication number: WO2005006105A2
Application number: PCT/EP2004/007533
Authority: WO
Inventors: Werner Hillinger; Gerfried Schmiedl; Johann Gadermayr
Original assignee: Hillinger Schmiedl Gadermayr
Priority date: 2003-07-09
Filing date: 2004-07-08
Publication date: 2005-01-20
Also published as: WO2005006105A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a data recording and a data processing system for at least a first (A) and a second location (B). The invention further relates to a method for data recording and data processing for said locations (A, B). Within said data recording and data processing system, an identification of the end user is carried out by means of an identification unit (10) preferably in the form of a transponder. Said data processing system comprises a central computer unit (60), providing a network linking the locations. A main account (70) with sub-accounts (72, 74) is provided in the central computer (60) for each end-user, whereby each of the sub-accounts (72, 74) is allocated to a particular location (A, B). A customer-specific data recording and processing thus occurs separately according to location.

Description

Data acquisition and data processing system

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a data acquisition and data processing system and a corresponding method for at least two sales outlets that work at different locations.

The present invention also relates to a computer-controlled database system and a method for storing, managing and processing data.

2. State of the art

Computer-controlled database systems are used in a wide variety of companies, for example for accounting or personnel management, and by service providers, for example a telephone information service. In general, database systems are used in all areas in which different amounts of data have to be assigned to a specific person, object or process.

Retailers and wholesalers in particular have a large number of different articles, the entry and exit of which must be constantly monitored, analyzed and controlled. For this reason, it is necessary that both access and, for example, the sale of articles or goods are recorded. This process of capturing takes place with the help of computer-aided database systems, in which each article is stored and administered. These computer-aided database systems have so far been used for individual sales outlets, which are located at different locations. Based on the technical complexity of such database systems and on the basis of the measures required for the maintenance of these database systems, these database systems are expensive for the locations. A further cost point arises from the constant updating of the software used in order to maintain the compatibility of the database system with systems from other providers. For example, retail chains use database systems that network the individual branches with one another, with the incoming and outgoing items being managed centrally. In addition to the costs for these database systems mentioned above, the access and exit data of the items cannot be analyzed in a customer-specific manner in order to be able to conclude a buying behavior in this way.

The database systems of individual locations described above were additionally provided with maps, codes or the like in order to be able to identify the individual end users of these locations. If goods of an end user are therefore recorded together with the customer-specific data of the coding, the card, the number or the like, on the one hand the buying behavior can be analyzed and on the other hand the range of goods can be adapted more quickly to the wishes of the end user.

However, the costs in connection with these computer systems or database systems are still disadvantageous because the database system is used in a restricted manner for individual locations and for this reason this location must bear the costs for the entire database system. In addition, additional costs are generated by issuing the customized cards or the like.

Another disadvantage arises from the structure of the customer-specific cards, which make the end consumer identifiable only for the respective location. It follows that the cards cannot be used from another location or another point of sale because the stored identifying data of the end user cannot be read by this point of sale.

Another disadvantage arises from the low data density with which data is transmitted within such database systems.

It is therefore the technical problem of the present invention to provide a data acquisition system and a data processing system that reduces the acquisition costs and the maintenance outlay for different locations in comparison to existing methods. It is a further technical problem of the present invention to be able to manage customer-specific data more efficiently and quickly through the database system.

Computer-controlled database systems use various search algorithms to determine related end dates based on certain initial dates. Initial data are, for example, an invoice number in an accounting system, a name in a personnel management system or a name with an address in a telephone information system. End data in this regard are formed, for example, for an invoice number by the various invoice items and prices, for a name in a personnel management system by its contractual terms, earnings and employment area and in a telephone information system by the telephone number associated with the name and address.

For example, if you enter the name of an employee in a personnel management system, the following steps are required to find the relevant end dates. First, the database system branches into a corresponding search program that is to find the end data assigned to the name. This search program takes the first letter of the name entered and opens an index file that consists of 26 entries. These 26 entries correspond the letters A - Z in the alphabet. The first letter of the name you are looking for is now compared with the 26 entries until a match has been found with one of the 26 entries. After the index matching the first letter has been found in the index file, the search program opens an index file in which correspondence between the second letter of the name sought and one of the entries is to be determined. The search program therefore loops to compare the corresponding letter of the name searched for with the respective entries in the index file. Due to the large number of loops to be carried out, this search algorithm is computationally intensive and time-consuming.

After the complete index for the name sought has been determined, this complete index also gives the address at which the end data sought is stored. At this point, the search program transfers the end data to the database system so that the start and end data can be managed further.

Based on the necessary computing time and computing capacity of the search algorithm described above, database systems must be equipped with powerful and therefore expensive microprocessors in order to be able to provide effective data management.

It is therefore the problem of the present invention to provide a database system and a method for managing data on the basis of a computer system, with which certain end data can be found and managed more quickly compared to conventional systems.

3. Summary of the invention

The above technical problems are solved by a data acquisition and data processing system according to independent claims 1, 4, 7 and 9, a Drive to data acquisition and data processing according to independent claim 12 and by a computer-controlled database system according to claim 14, the method according to claim 22, the method according to claims 27 and 28 and by the database system according to claim 29.

The present invention comprises a data acquisition and data processing system for at least a first and a second location, comprising: at least one identification unit which identifies an end user on the basis of transmitted identification data; at least one first reading unit of the first location and at least one second reading unit of the second location, which recognize the identification data of the identification unit; at least one first data acquisition unit of the first location and at least one second data acquisition unit of the second location, which each acquire customer-specific data of goods of the end user and the forwarded identification data of the end user and output a first and a second overall result; a central computer unit with a database system that assigns each end user a main account with at least a first sub-account of the first location and a second sub-account of the second location, which stores and processes the customer-specific data in this first and second sub-account and that has a first processing result of the customer-specific data the first sub-account and which stores a second processing result of the customer-specific data of the second sub-account in the first and second sub-accounts; a first transmission unit of the first location and a second transmission unit of the second location, the first transmission unit transmitting the customer-specific data from the first data acquisition unit to the first sub-account and the second transmission unit transmitting the customer-specific data from the second data acquisition unit to the second sub-account using wireless data communication and transmit the data from the central processing unit to the first and second data acquisition units using wireless data communication; and at least one database terminal with a third reading unit, a transmission unit and an input unit, so that the first and second subaccounts can be called up independently on the central computer unit for the end user and so that the first and second processing results can be changed for the end user by starting a processing program.

The present invention provides a networked computer system or database system which is used for data acquisition and for data processing for the data from separately operating sales outlets or locations. In this context, a location refers to a point of sale in a chain or independent points of sale. In addition, a location denotes points at which an exchange of goods or trade takes place in the most general sense, which is connected with data to be managed.

This data processing system carries out customer-specific data processing, with at least one customer-specific sub-account being assigned to the locations, so that the recorded and managed data are only accessible to the respective location and the end user himself. On this basis, the data is backed up in front of the other locations and at the same time the equipment required for such a data processing system is minimized because not every single location has to set up and maintain its own database system.

Another advantage of the present system results from the use of mobile data communication for data transmission between the individual system components. Mobile data communication, preferably with GPRS or other transmission formats, avoids the laborious laying of cables. In addition, with the help of mobile data communication, large amounts of data can be transferred quickly and over any distance. It is further preferred that the identification unit is a transponder, a magnetic card reader or a bar code reader.

Another advantage of the present invention results from the identification of the end user with the help of a transponder. This identification takes place without contact because, according to the invention, the transponder preferably sends customer-specific identification data to the data processing system which are recognized by the data processing system. The transmitted data record for identification of the end user is configured so that the individual locations can store the identification data required for their data management. This gives the end user the opportunity to identify himself in locations that work separately from each other using only one identification unit, namely the transponder. Another advantage of using a transponder is that it takes up little space and also communicates contactlessly with the reading unit of the data processing system, which also enables invisible customer identification. In addition, magnetic cards, barcodes or the like are preferred for identification instead of the transponder.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and / or second processing result can be changed with the aid of a random generator by means of the processing program, as a result of which the first and / or second processing result is increased, reduced, kept constant or deleted in order to reduce the processing effort of the customer-specific data - keep that or constant.

It is preferred according to the invention that the end user has access to his main account with the sub-accounts assigned to the respective locations via a database terminal of the data processing system. These sub-accounts include customer-specific data related to the purchased goods and the processing results from this data. Such a processing result According to the invention, preference is given to a sum which is credited to the end consumer on his next purchase. In addition to viewing the sub-accounts, it is also preferred according to the invention that the end user influences and changes these processing results by starting a processing program. According to the invention, the processing result is preferably multiplied, reduced or canceled by using a random generator. This contribution by the end user reduces the data expenditure of the data processing system, provided that the processing result, preferably the sum according to the invention, is deleted by the random generator. According to the invention, the database terminal is preferably operated via a touchscreen that is present in location A and location B. It is further preferred according to the invention that the database terminal is formed by a home computer of the end user. This home computer communicates with the central computer unit and / or the first and / or second data acquisition unit depending on its networking and on the processing programs executed by the end user. It is also preferred that the operator of the location uses a home computer or location computer to establish a connection to the database system and thus to the central computer unit in order to carry out data management.

The present invention furthermore comprises a method for data acquisition and data processing for at least a first and a second location, comprising the following steps: detection and forwarding of an identification signal by a first reading unit of the first location or a second reading unit of the second location, that of one End user identification unit is output; Collecting customer-specific data with a first data acquisition unit in the first location or with a second data acquisition unit in the second location; Transmission of the customer-specific data and the identification signal to a central computer unit, where a main account of the end user is identified with the aid of the identification signal and where the customer-specific data of the first location in a first Sub-account of the main account and the customer-specific data of the second location are stored in a second sub-account of the main account; Creating a first processing result on the basis of the customer-specific data of the first sub-account and a second processing result on the basis of the customer-specific data of the second sub-account and storing the first and second processing results in the respective sub-account together with a first and a second previous processing result of a previous process with the previous steps; Transmitting the first or second previous processing result using wireless data communication to the first or second data acquisition unit and calculating an overall result from the customer-specific data and the first or second previous processing result.

According to the invention, the overall result is first determined in the central computer unit and then transmitted to the data acquisition units. It is also preferred according to the invention to process the customer-specific data in the respective data acquisition unit and to determine and temporarily store corresponding processing results. Accordingly, the previous processing results are transmitted from the central computer unit to the data acquisition unit in order to determine and output the overall result there together with the customer-specific data of the goods.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present method, this further comprises the following steps: collecting the customer-specific data, the processing result and the previous processing result of the first and second sub-account by the end user with the aid of a database terminal on which the end user identifies himself by the identification unit; Starting a processing program with a random generator via a touch screen of the database terminal, whereby the first and / or second processing result is increased, reduced, kept constant or deleted, in order to reduce or keep a processing effort of the customer-specific data constant; and storing the first or second processing result in the first or second subaccount of the central processing unit.

The present invention also includes a computer-controlled database system for storing, managing and processing connected start and end data, comprising: an input / read-out unit, with the aid of which the start data can be input into the database system and the end data can be read out of the database system Storage means in which the end data can be stored in the memory at a specified address and determination means with which the specified address of the end data can be determined from the initial data, so that the end data can be read out from the specified address of the end data in the storage means by direct addressing ,

The present computer-controlled database system is used to manage related start and end dates. It is characterized in that complex search algorithms are saved when searching for the end data in the storage means of the database system by using direct addressing of the end data in the storage means. This direct addressing of the end data can be determined from the start data. Based on the direct addressing, computation-intensive indexing, which is developed in multiple tables, is not necessary. In addition, according to the invention, the initial data are preferably recorded by the database system such that they represent a pointer element to the end data stored in the storage means. After direct addressing of the end data in the storage means, there is direct access to this address for reading and outputting the end data.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the storage means comprises at least two cascaded, physically separate storage areas. In order to be able to store and read the end data based on direct addressing in defined memory areas, according to the invention, at least two memory areas that are physically separate from one another are preferably connected in series in the form of a cascade. According to the invention, these physically separate storage areas are preferably formed by independent storage systems, computer or client systems. In this context, the term cascading means that physically delimited memory areas are lined up and connected to one another in such a way that they are either ready for access or that they are successively filled with storable data, in each case after the previous memory area has been utilized.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present database system, the end data can be stored in a plurality of areas of equal size in the first and second of the at least two storage areas.

It is preferred to assign areas of equal size in the first and second of the at least two memory areas to the end data based on the initial data. In this way, a direct relationship is established between the start dates and a certain amount of end dates in these areas. In addition, it is guaranteed that the address of the end data in the at least two memory areas can be determined from the initial data without the need for complex search algorithms.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the end data can be continuously stored in the first and second of the at least two memory areas, regardless of the physical limits of the at least two memory areas.

If the end data consists of a large number of data types or data types, they can be stored in a designated delimited area, as described above has been described. It is also preferred to continuously store the different data types or data types of the end data in the first and second of the at least two memory areas. This means, for example, that data type 1 of the respective end data is always only stored in the first of the two memory areas and that data type 2 of the respective end data is only ever stored in the second of the at least two memory areas. This type of distribution of the end data also ensures quick access to the end data without the use of complex search algorithms.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the determination means determines from the initial data an indication which designates the specified address of the final data or which is assigned to the specified address of the final data at one point in the database system.

According to a further preferred embodiment, a computer program controlling the database system is recorded at a central point, the database system being usable via a client-server relationship.

The computer program that controls the database system is preferably stored at a central location, for example in a server. Starting from this server, the database system accesses connected storage areas in order to read out the data stored there. Due to the central storage of the controlling computer program, a plurality of client systems can be connected to the server and the database system can therefore be used in parallel for these client systems.

It is further preferred that the computer program controlling the database system is directly accessible for at least one client system.

In addition to storing the controlling computer program for the database system in a central location, the storage of this computer programs preferred in the individual client systems. On this basis, the client systems run the computer program independently and then access the connected memory areas with the respective end data.

It is further preferred that the computer program controlling the database system is stored together with the end data in each case in the at least two memory areas or that the computer program is stored in at least one program memory area separately from the end data.

The present invention further comprises a method for storing, managing and processing connected start and end data in a computer-controlled database system, comprising the following steps: inputting the start data into an input / read-out unit; Determining a fixed address of the end data from the start data at which the end data are stored in a storage means and reading out the end data from the storage means with the aid of direct addressing of the end data.

It is further preferred that the method comprises storing end data at a fixed address that can be determined from the start data.

The present invention further includes a method of determining date correspondence according to claims 27 and 28.

4. Brief description of the accompanying drawings.

The preferred embodiments of the present invention are explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of the preferred data acquisition and data processing system according to the invention for at least a first and a second location.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the present database system;

FIG. 3 shows a preferred structuring of the data and program areas;

FIG. 4 shows the preferred distribution of the end data over the at least two storage areas;

FIG. 5 shows the preferred interaction of the memory areas with the computer program controlling the database system; and

6 shows the preferred arrangement of program memories and data memories in the database system.

7 shows the flowchart of a method for determining the correspondence of a date according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

5. Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

The data acquisition and data processing system according to the invention is preferably used for at least two sales outlets which form different locations. These locations can belong to the same or different sales chains or they are independent. On this basis, the data acquisition and data processing system according to the invention provides a comprehensive management system which ensures data acquisition and data analysis, which the locations can carry out separately. Because of this computer networking of different locations it is it is not necessary for the individual locations to set up and maintain their own computer systems. This results in the use of a high-performance networked computer system in the individual locations, which at the same time is associated with reduced maintenance costs and therefore reduced costs due to the merger. Nevertheless, this networked data acquisition and data processing system preferably ensures that the end user data is kept secret from other locations.

In addition to the data processing preferred by the locations involved according to the invention, it is possible for the end user to carry out his own data processing via connected database terminals. Such data processing preferably includes, according to the invention, the checking of the customer-specific accounts and the data contained therein, the processing of these data (as described in more detail below), and the communication with the respective location. The end user's own processing of the stored data reduces the processing effort for the data processing system or this effort remains at least constant. The processing programs used by the end user are started manually via the database terminal or they are assigned to the respective sub-account of the corresponding location by selection via this database terminal as permanent processing software.

The system according to the invention is formed by a computer network, as is shown schematically in FIG. 1. This computer network comprises a central computer unit 60, which is also referred to as a server. A database system is operated on this central computer unit 60 which, according to the invention, preferably assigns a main account 70 to each end user involved. The main account 70 is assigned to the respective end user via an identifying data record. This identifying data record is stored both in the central computer unit 60 and in an identification unit 10, as described in detail below. The central computer unit 60 or the server is networked or connected to different locations A, B. There is no networking between the locations A, B working separately from one another in order to ensure separate data transmission to the central computer unit 60.

Depending on the number of locations A, B connected to the central computer unit 60, 70 sub-accounts 72, 74 are formed within the customer-specific main account. Referring to the preferred embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 1, a first sub-account 72 in connection with the first location A and a second sub-account 74 in connection with the second location B are created in the main account 70 of the end user. As soon as customer-specific data are ascertained within these locations A, B, the customer-specific data of the first location A are stored in the first sub-account 72 and the customer-specific data of the second location B are stored in the second sub-account 74.

In order to transfer the determined customer-specific data of the first location A and the second location B to the respective sub-account 72, 74 of the central computer unit 60, a first transmission unit 80 of the first location A and a second transmission unit 90 of the second location B are used , With the aid of the transmission units 80, 90, the data are transmitted in both directions between the central computer unit 60 and a first 40 and a second data acquisition unit 50. The data is preferably transmitted or transmitted via a network of the data acquisition and data processing system according to the invention. This networking is provided for example by telephone networks or other electrical connections.

It is also preferred to include the data communication between the central computer unit 60 and the connected data acquisition units 40, 50 With the help of mobile data communication, ie with the help of GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and / or UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunication System). These systems preferably enable a fast transfer of large amounts of data, so that data can be transferred in real time. In this case, the data processing according to the invention is preferably independent of whether it is carried out by the central computer unit 60 or by the data acquisition units 40, 50 in the individual locations A, B.

In order to determine the customer-specific data to be stored, each location A, B includes the data acquisition units 40, 50 already mentioned above. According to the invention, the purchased or selected goods are preferably recorded with these data acquisition units 40, 50. According to the invention, this detection is preferably carried out automatically using, for example, scanning methods. Depending on the type and scope of the customer-specific data to be recorded, manual entry is also preferred.

In order to be able to record the data as customer-specific data in the individual locations A, B, the end user must first be identified. According to the invention, this customer identification is preferably carried out with the aid of a transponder 10, which is also referred to as identification unit 10 (cf. FIG. 1). In comparison to the transponder 10 which is preferred according to the invention, known types of plastic with magnetic strips are expensive to use. Each individual location A, B issues its own plastic cards with magnetic strips and the data record stored on these cards to identify the end consumer is not readable by other locations. In addition, such a plastic card with a magnetic stripe requires that the customer card must be inserted into an appropriate reader each time it is purchased or during each identification process. This means that additional data steps are required when collecting the data, which increase the time required for data collection. However, these cards and identification units are also preferred in the present invention. The transponder 10 preferred according to the invention stores the identifying data record with sufficient information so that the most diverse locations A, B can derive the information necessary for them from this identifying data record. Furthermore, the separation of the customer data does not take place via the identifying data record of the transponder 10, but the separation takes place via the sub-accounts 72, 74 of the main account 70 which are set up in the central computer unit 60 and which are assigned to the individual locations A, B. Both the end user and the respective location A or B, for which this sub-account 72, 74 has been set up, have access to these sub-accounts 72, 74.

A passive transponder 10 is preferably used. Passive transponders 10 do not have their own power supply in the form of a battery. Therefore, they are maintenance-free, have a long service life and are characterized by small dimensions. Based on the missing battery and the small dimensions, preferred transponders 10 according to the invention are provided in plastic cards, key fobs, in coin form, as bracelets or the like. They can therefore be carried by the end user with little effort. Such a passive transponder 10 comprises a microchip and an antenna, the energy for the chip being dissipated from the surrounding frequency field via the antenna. The data exchange of the transponder 10 with a reading unit 20, 30 to be described later also takes place via this antenna.

According to the invention, the transponder 10 preferably transmits its signal to the reading unit 20 or the reading unit 30. According to the invention, the reading unit 20 is preferably connected to the first data acquisition unit 40 of the first location A and the reading unit 30 is preferably connected to the second data acquisition unit 50 of the second location B. The signal of the transponder 10 is transmitted by the reading units 20, 30 according to the invention, preferably without showing or inserting the transponder 10 into the reading unit 20, 30. It is also preferred according to the invention to provide the transponder 10 with a sufficient to provide the power so that only when passing through the reading unit 20, 30 the end user is identified by the transmission of the transponder signal. According to the invention, other infrastructural devices, for example devices in the parking garage or in the catering trade, preferably also communicate with the customer-specific transponder 10, so that the end user is identified. The determined data, such as parking time in a parking garage, costs incurred and the like, are transmitted on this basis to the main account 70 of the end user within the central computer unit 60 and stored there.

The customer-specific data in connection with the goods selected by the end user are recorded by the first data acquisition unit 40 of the first location A and by the second data acquisition unit 50 of the second location B. According to the invention, this data is preferably processed, such as the determination of costs or discounts attributable to the end user, in the data acquisition unit 40, 50 or after the transmission of the customer-specific data within the central computer unit 60. Starting from the data acquisition unit 40 of the first location A determined data, these are transmitted by the first transmission unit 80 to the central computer unit 60. Within the central computer unit 60, these data and the first processing result, if it already exists, are stored in the first sub-account 72 that is assigned to the first location A. According to the invention, the first processing result preferably contains the total costs determined and a sum to be granted. According to the invention, however, the sum is preferably offset against the total costs or is stored in the sub-account 72 for the next purchase or the next customer-specific data acquisition.

If the next customer-specific data acquisition takes place or the next purchase takes place, a subsequent first processing result results after the above-described procedure. This subsequent first processing result is preferably offset against the previous first processing result, that is to say with the preferred previous sum according to the invention, in order to achieve a first overall result. This method of offsetting is only applicable if the previous sum has not already been offset against the previous total costs. The same calculation basis applies accordingly to each individual location A, B, which makes this type of data processing available to its end users.

The calculated first overall result of the data of the first location A is output via the first data acquisition unit 40 after these data have been transmitted from the central computer unit 60 with the aid of the transmission unit 80. At the same time, the first overall result or the overall result of the respective location A, B is stored in the corresponding sub-account 72, 74 of the central computer unit 60.

It is further preferred according to the invention to provide control and further processing of the customer-specific data within the sub-accounts 72, 74 with the aid of a database terminal 10. Via this administration terminal 10, the end user has access to his main account 70 as well as the sub-accounts 72, 74 managed in the context of the main account, which are assigned to the individual locations A, B. According to the invention, there is preferably at least one database terminal 10 at each location A, B in order to give the end user access to his accounts 70, 72, 74 at all times. It is also preferred according to the invention to use a private home computer of the end user as the administration terminal 100. This home computer preferably communicates from the home / office of the end user with one or more selected components of the data acquisition system, ie for example with the central computer unit and / or with the respective data acquisition unit at locations A, B. Another preferred embodiment is that the end user can connect to the data acquisition system according to the invention via any computer connected to the Internet. According to the invention, then either the data acquisition unit 40, 50 or the central computer unit 60 preferably provides the software for the functions of the database terminal 100. The end consumer is therefore not bound to the opening times of locations A, B and does not have to have a home computer.

According to the invention, such a database terminal 10 preferably comprises a reading unit 110, an input unit 130 and a transmission unit 120. The reading unit 110 and the transmission unit 120 function in the same manner as has been described in connection with the identical units of the individual locations A, B. According to the invention, input unit 130 is preferably formed by a touch screen, via which the end user can select the accounts he wants and can start processing programs.

According to the invention, the database terminal 10 preferably provides the end user with computer programs or processing programs which can be used to manage and change the processing results preferred according to the invention in the respective sub-accounts 72, 74. Such processing programs can, according to the invention, preferably only be started by the end consumer when he has identified himself via his identification unit 10 or his transponder in cooperation with the reading unit 110. Thereafter, the end user has unlimited access to the accounts of the central computer unit 60 that are identified.

The database terminal 10 preferably provides the end user with a computer program with a random generator or other processing programs. This computer program processes the sums stored in the respective sub-accounts 72, 74 with the support of the random generator. According to the invention, the end user preferably starts from the database terminal 10 this program with random generator or he sets up this program with random generator permanently in his sub-accounts 72, 74, so that it is executed as soon as a new data record or a new processing result is received in the respective sub-account 72, 74. With the help of the random generator, the stored total is kept constant, reduced, multiplied or canceled. Depending on the probability with which the stored sum is canceled, the data expenditure for the data acquisition and data processing system according to the invention is reduced in this way. If the sum is not canceled, the execution of this computer program does not result in any additional data expenditure that has to be taken into account in subsequent calculations or otherwise takes up time and computing capacity.

According to the invention, the above-mentioned computer program with a random generator is preferably carried out either within the database terminal 10 or within the central computer unit 60. Depending on where the result of the use of the computer program with a random generator has been determined, the data is transmitted using the transmission unit 120 either to the central computer unit 60 or from the central computer unit 60 to the database terminal 10 for output. If the above-mentioned computer program has been executed by the database terminal 10, the result is output via the input and output unit 130 and at the same time the result is transmitted to the central computer unit 60 in order to be stored there in the corresponding sub-account 72, 74.

As soon as, according to the invention, this result, ie the sum changed by the random generator has been stored in the corresponding sub-account 72, 74, it is available for the subsequent data acquisition process. If data is again transmitted from one of the locations A, B, the sum changed by the random generator is applied to the processing result of this data in order to determine a new overall result. This loading The calculation is carried out either by the central computer unit 60 or by the respective data acquisition unit 40, 50 after the sum changed by the random generator has been transmitted from the central computer unit 60 via the transmission unit 80, 90 to the corresponding data acquisition unit 40, 50.

The present invention also relates to a computer-controlled database system and a method for data processing, which is basically described by a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment in FIG. 2. The database system 1 processes or manages start data 10 and end data 40. If the present database system is described on the basis of the management of invoice data, the start data 10 are formed by the invoice number and the end data 40 are formed, for example, by different invoice items with article number and price. The aim of the present database system 1 is, based on the known start data 10, to determine the associated end data 40 with little computational and time expenditure based on direct addressing.

In order to determine the end data 40 associated with the start data 10, the start data 10 are first input or read into an input / read-out unit 20. The input component of the input / read-out unit 20 comprises known elements for inputting or reading in the initial data 10, such as, for example, a keyboard, a touchscreen, a bar code scanner or other similar systems.

The initial data 10 are passed on by the input / read-out unit 20 to determination means 30 within the computer-controlled database system 1. These determination means 30 are preferably formed by a computer, which can further process initial data 10. These determination means 30 are preferably working memories for programs and data and thus Processors operating on the menu, which process the start data 10 to obtain the end data 40 on the basis of a program code of the database system 1.

The computer program within the determination means 30 therefore recognizes from a first program calculation sequence that processable initial data 10 have been transmitted. This computer program initiates a further step, which converts the start data 10 into the direct addressing of the end data 40 and executes the program codes necessary for the interruption of the end data 40. For this reason, the received initial data 10 in connection with the computer program controlling the database system are converted into a pointer array within the preferred determination means 30 that directly addresses the end data 40 in the memory and the computer programs available for the interruption of the end data 40 in the working memory.

The required end data 40 are preferably located in the main memory for data or in the mass memory for large amounts of data during this process. It is also preferred that the end data 40 are distributed over the two storage areas mentioned. The direct addressing of the program components to be executed and the end data 40 ensures quick access to the respective component, which requires little computing capacity and computing time. This fast access is provided in that the logical address of the program components and the end data 40 match the respective physical address.

After the address of the end data 40 and that of the program components required for the integration have been determined in the storage means 50 by the determination means 30, these addresses are transmitted to the input / readout unit 20. This data is subsequently used by the input / readout unit 20 to read out the corresponding data from the memory center 50. In this context, the term “readout” denotes both a retrieval of the unprocessed end data 40 from the working memory. and the mass storage for data as well as calling and executing the corresponding program u-nm components in the working memory for programs for processing the unprocessed end data 40. The above-mentioned pointer array, which has been determined from the entered start data 10, preferably shows by its direct addressing to one or more memory areas 52, 54, 56 which, depending on the memory in which they are located, contain program components or end data 40.

After the end data 40 have been transmitted to the input / readout unit 20 with the aid of the program components to be executed, they are output to the user of the present computer-controlled database system 1. This output was in turn carried out by known elements such as a screen, a printer or by other known elements for displaying or transmitting data.

In order to manage coherent start and end data 40 within the computer-controlled database system 1, input data is also stored in the corresponding storage means 50. In the course of this process, the direct addressing of the memory area 52, 54, 56 is determined from the start data 10, in which the end data 40 are stored and are available for later use.

From the preferred database system described above and the method used in it for storing, managing and processing related start and end data 40, it can be seen that the end data 40 without a computation-intensive and time-intensive indexing, ie without having to go through a large number of Computing loops, but works with a direct addressing of the end data 40 and the program components required for their administration. The direct addressing follows from the initial data 10 by forming a corresponding array of pointers to the end data 40, so that a Faster access and faster reading of the corresponding end data 40 takes place compared to known systems.

The abovementioned direct addressing within the preferred computer-controlled database system 1 means that the logical addressing, starting from the start data 10 to the end data 40 / corresponding program components, corresponds to the corresponding physical addressing. It follows from this that the pointer array determined from the initial data 10 refers to the program components required for the further processing of the final data 40 and to the final data 40 in the corresponding memory areas. Access packets are formed on this basis, which are shown schematically in FIG. 3a.

These access packages preferably consist of the program components or program functions F0-Fn, which form the program area. Furthermore, they comprise a data area which is formed by data DO to Dn. These access packages are accessed by both reading and writing functions. This means that when one or more of the program components or program functions F0 - Fn are executed, one or more of the data DO - Dn are only read out and passed on, or that new values are calculated from this data DO - Dn and reassigned to the positions DO - Dn become. Thus, the processing of data preferably includes reading, linking, calculating and writing or reallocating data in the respective data areas DO-Dn.

Such a process of processing data is shown by way of example in FIG. 3b. By executing program 2, the data stored in data area DO [1] are processed. Upon completion of the processing of this data, values are reallocated to the data area DO [1]. This is indicated by the change in the numerical values in the example shown in FIG. 3b. The direct addressing, ie the address at which the end data 40 or the program components can be found, is specified directly within the pointer array determined from the start data 10. This address can be a number or an identifier that has been assigned to an address elsewhere in the computer program of the database system 1.

In order to be able to store the large amounts of end data 40 within the preferred computer-controlled database system 1, different, physically separate storage areas 52, 54, 56 are connected in series in the form of a cascade within the storage means 50. Such memory areas 52, 54, 56 are preferably formed by independent computers or computers, which are shown in FIG. 4 as computer 1, computer 2 and computer x. These computers 1 - x are also referred to as clients, which have access to the data stored in the memory areas 52, 54, 56.

In order to facilitate and accelerate access to the end data 40, various arrangements of the data records of the data types DO-Dn within the memory areas 52, 54, 56 are preferably used. FIG. 4a shows a first preferred embodiment of the arrangement of the data records in the physically separate memory areas 52, 54, 56. The memory areas 52, 54, 56 are provided by the computers 1, 2 and x. The number n of data records of data type DO and the number m of data records of data type D2 are stored within said physically separate memory areas 52, 54, 56. Due to the limited space in memory area 52 or in computer 1, only a certain number of data records of data types DO and D2 can be stored in memory area 52. The remaining data records of data types DO and D2 are stored in the remaining, physically separate memory areas 54 and 56 of computers 2 to x. The information for the input / read-out unit 20, from which memory area 52, 54, 56 or from which computer 1, 2, x the end data 40, ie the data records of data type DO, D2, can be read out.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the storage of the end data 40, which is shown in FIG. 4b, the storage areas 52, 54, 56 are successively represented by the data records of the data type DO, by the data records of the data type D1 and by the data records of the data type D2 filled to name just a few preferred examples. Depending on the size of the data records of data type DO, the entire memory area 52 and part of the memory area 54 are therefore used, or only parts of the memory area 52 are used. The remaining memory space in the memory area 54 is filled by the next following data records of data type D1 etc. Also in this preferred case of data storage, the direct addressing or the pointer array means that the respective memory area is determined from the initial data 10 52, 54, 56, in which the end dates 40 can be found.

The respective calculation of the address of the end data 40 in connection with the cascaded memory areas 52, 54, 56 takes place in such a way that if the address calculation results in an area that is no longer physically addressable, the system automatically switches from one memory area to the next memory area , It is also preferred that this process of determining the storage area is preceded by a data packet that is part of the computer program controlling the database system 1. In this way, a large volume of data can always be processed at the same speed, since the computing time for address determination is almost constant regardless of the memory area. Such cascading of the memory areas 52, 54, 56, which is preferably also outsourced to client systems, cannot be achieved with normal index tables.

In the present database system, index tables are preferably only used if there are several data sets of starting data 10, which with almost same data are filled. In this case, a certain limited memory area 52, 54 or 56 is preferably addressed directly by the pointer array, in which, however, the desired data record must be selected using index tables. Since the indexing only relates to a very small memory area, the speed advantage of the present database system in relation to other systems is not adversely affected by this.

According to the first preferred embodiment of the storage of the data in different storage areas 52, 54, 56, the data are thus distributed to all computers in packets of the same size (cf. FIG. 4a). According to the second preferred embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 4b, the data are distributed across the computers regardless of the physical limits of the memory areas 52, 54, 56. By selecting the respective type of storage of data in the memory areas 52, 54, 56, the computing time for accessing several physically separate memory areas is optimized. In this context, it is preferred that the physically separate memory areas 52, 54, 56 used are of the same size, because the use of memory areas of different sizes requires more administration effort and therefore computing time.

FIG. 6 shows preferred embodiments of the arrangement of program memories and data memories. According to FIG. 6a, program memories 1, 2 to n that are physically separate from one another are preferably used when using extensive programs. Depending on the structuring rank of the database system 1, these program memories 1, 2, n are arranged within a computer system or distributed to different client systems. Depending on the data required for the program, the corresponding data memory 1, 2, m is accessed from the respective program memory 1, 2, n. This access is preferably indicated in FIG. 6a by the arrows pointing in both directions. When using programs of a smaller scope, it is further preferred to arrange all programs in a common program memory of a computer, a computer or, generally speaking, a device. Part of the data or all of the required data are arranged in the same device, so that the data can be accessed more quickly than in the embodiment described above. In the case of extensive data, it is also preferred to distribute it over physically separate memory areas. Thus, the entirety of the programs stored in a device or an individual program accesses the data stored within this device or accesses the data within a connected device. This use of data stored in physically separate memory areas is illustrated by the arrows shown in FIG. 6b.

The connections between the individual components shown in the figures do not have to exist physically, but are also preferably formed by a link between these components.

5a and b show preferred variants of external access to the computer-controlled database system 1. According to FIG. 5a, the computer program of the database system 1 is stored within a server or gateway, which contains all programs for processing the data in the memories 1, 2, m. A plurality of client systems, ie client 1, client 2 to client n, are connected to this server, which use a request language to scan and execute the programs in the server. The server is in turn able with the aid of its memory program language to execute these programs and to communicate with the memories 1, 2 to m in order to call up the relevant end data 40 for further processing or only for output. In this system, there is therefore no direct access by the client systems to the memories 1, 2 to m with the end data 40. According to a further preferred embodiment of the database system, which is shown in FIG. 5b, a plurality of client systems, ie client 1, client 2 to client n, access the memories, ie memory 1, memory 2 to memory m, which the contain further end data 40 required for processing. This arrangement of the client systems and the storage units is similar to a multiprocessor set, but it has a reduced number of connections between the individual components. These connections are indicated in Figure 5b by the arrows shown.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the database system, the computers 1 to x contain identical processors, but not necessarily the clock rate, with identical processors and the associated memories each containing identical data. In order to increase the reliability of the data queries, the same data queries are carried out for each of the 1 to x memories, the results of the 1 to x data queries being compared with one another to determine whether the 1 to x memories are consistent with respect to the queried date Data contained or not. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this is done in the manner shown in FIG. 7 in that the 1 to x computers receive identical data requests 1 to x (step 7.1). Before the 1 to x identical data queries are processed, the 1 to x computers are each set to an identical initial state (step 7.2). This step includes in particular the initialization of certain processor registers, each with identical values for each of the 1 to x computers. This is followed by the processing of the actual data query by each of the 1 to x computers (step 7.3). After the data query has ended, the determined, previously initialized processor registers are read out in each of the 1 to x computers (step 7.4). The read register data are then returned to the requesting computer together with the results of the data query (step 7.5). In the receiving computer, the immediate results of the data queries no longer have to be compared directly with one another. Instead, it can be indirectly concluded that the same query results are available if a comparison of the processor states of the 1 to x computers reported together with the query results after executing the 1 to x data queries reveals that the processor states are completely identical or at least identical with respect to certain memory locations or processor registers are.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the 1 to x computers are equipped with AMD Athlon processors. Direct addressing is used, ideally in the so-called 'flat model'. The executing program and the data associated with it are bound to fixed storage locations in the preferred exemplary embodiment. The processor register used for the comparison of the computer states is the register with the name PervEvtSel MSR, documented in the publication AMD Athlon Processor X86 Code Optimization Guide, Publication No .: 22007 Revision: K Date: February 2002 (in particular Appendix D) from the company AMD. When the program starts, the cache in each of the 1 to x computers is brought to the same status (INND).

The procedure is as follows:

Νr. step

1 Start 2 Read the input data or query data

3 Start processing

4 Switch to privilege level 0 (innermost part)

5 Turn on cache (mov CR0, eax)

6 Block interrupts (CLI) 7 PervEvtSel MSR on: EvenfMask: C0 Unit Mask: irrelevant here USR: Only on 1, 2, 3 OS: None 0 remaining. Flags: No int, with overflow ++ etc ... EN: 1 Counter Mask: 0

8 PerCtrMSR: 0 (WRMSR with ECX = EAX = EDX = 0)

9 Switch to privilege 1 (or 2, 3)

10 Call the actual data query 1 Switch to privilege 0 2 PervEvtSel MSR to: EN = 0 3 Interrupts on (sti) 4 Load the PerfCtr MSR (ECX = 0) 15 Mov edi, offset result data 6 Stosd 7 Mov eax, edx 8 Stosd 9 Deactivate cache (CR0) 20 Send the result data

21 End of processing

The receiving computing unit only has to compare the first 64 bits each, which contain the content of the processor register used, in order to recognize the consistency of the total amount of data processed. The actual initialization of the PervEvtSel register is only required once. The EN bit is also sufficient in the running program. If the data on the 1 to x computers is consistent, the same results are obtained in the above calculations because the PervEvtSel register is only incremented with regard to modes 1, 2 and 3, i.e. any interruptions or exceptions that occur in the surrounding system, ie ring 0, run, not to be counted. It is preferred that the PervEvtSel Register is controlled depending on whether the actual data query is code- or data-intensive, so that, for example, a decision is made based on whether only Ll misses or all cache accesses are counted.

In a further preferred embodiment, in each of the 1 to x computers the time elapsed when the data query was carried out is counted externally with the aid of the timer present in each computer. The difference between the input and output time (counter reading) converted from the external clocks to the processor clock (eg in the PC 4.77 / 4 for external and 1000 for a Pentium 4/1000) results in a 64-bit number (32 bits for the result + 32 bits for the rest), which represent the time used, independent of the clock. If the code was run through on two computers, i.e. the same amount of data has been processed, the number of cycles used must be similar.

The preferred embodiments of the data arrangement, the connection of various system components and the memory models described in the figures are not to be regarded as separate. Therefore, the combinations of the different embodiments are also preferred. In addition, all models shown are created and processed based on the same source code or the same program logic. The computing time required for every conceivable combination of the above models is therefore small, because the basic division of the logical accesses to the physical areas is done by a calculation. Since this one calculation essentially remains the same, on the one hand the computing time required for this is almost constant and on the other hand the structure of the database system 1 is simple.

A database system described in this way can also be used to implement a computer-controlled database system with several locations, the identification data being recorded redundantly in different computers or the associated memories.

Claims

claims

1. A data acquisition and data processing system for at least a first (A) and a second location (B), comprising: a. at least one identification unit (10) which identifies an end user on the basis of transmitted identification data; b. at least one first reading unit (20) of the first location (A) and at least one second reading unit (30) of the second location (B), which recognize the identification data of the identification unit (10); c. at least one first data acquisition unit (40) of the first location (A) and at least one second data acquisition unit (50) of the second location (B), each of which acquires customer-specific data of goods of the end user and the forwarded identification data of the end user and a first and a second overall result output; d. a central computer unit (60) with a database system that assigns each end user a main account (70) with at least a first sub-account (72) of the first location (A) and a second sub-account (74) of the second location (B), which in this the first (72) and the second sub-account (74) stores and processes the customer-specific data and that a first processing result of the customer-specific data of the first sub-account (72) and that a second processing result of the customer-specific data of the second sub-account (74) in the first (72) or second sub-account (74) saves; e. a first transmission unit (80) of the first location (A) and a second transmission unit (90) of the second location (B), the first Transmission unit (80) the customer-specific data from the first data acquisition unit (40) to the first sub-account (72) and the second transmission unit (90) the customer-specific data from the second data acquisition unit (50) to the second sub-account (74) with the aid of wireless data communication transmits and transmits the data from the central processing unit (60) to the first (40) and the second data acquisition unit (50) by means of wireless data communication; and f. at least one database terminal (100) with a third reading unit (HO), a transmission unit (120) and an input unit (130), so that the first (72) and second subaccount (74) on the central computer unit (60) for the end user can be called up independently and so that the first and second processing results can be changed for the end user by starting a processing program.

2. The data acquisition and data processing system according to claim 1, wherein the identification unit is a transponder, a magnetic card or a barcode.

3. The data acquisition and data processing system according to spoke 1, wherein by means of the processing program, the first and / or second processing result can be changed with the aid of a random generator, whereby the first and / or second processing result is increased, reduced, kept constant or deleted by a processing effort to reduce or keep the customer-specific data constant.

4. A data acquisition and data processing system for at least a first (A) and a second location (B), which works together with a central computer unit (60) according to claim 7 and / or with a database terminal (100) according to claim 9, comprising: a. at least one identification unit (10) which identifies an end user on the basis of transmitted identification data; b. at least one first reading unit (20) of the first location (A) and at least one second reading unit (30) of the second location (B), which recognize and forward the identification data of the identification unit (10); c. at least one first data acquisition unit (40) of the first location (A) and at least one second data acquisition unit (50) of the second location (B), which acquire customer-specific data of goods of the end user and the forwarded identification data of the goods of the end user and a first and a second Output overall result; d. a first transmission unit (80) of the first location (A) and a second transmission unit (90) of the second location (B), the first transmission unit (80) transferring the customer-specific data from the first data acquisition unit (40) to a first sub-account (72) and wherein the second transmission unit (90) transmits the customer-specific data from the second data acquisition unit (50) to a second sub-account (74) of a main account of the central computer unit (60) with the aid of wireless data communication, and wherein the first transmission unit (80) transmits a first and the second transmission unit (90) transmits a second processing result from the central processing unit (60) to the first (40) or second data acquisition unit (50) with the aid of wireless data communication.

5. The data acquisition and data processing system according to claim 4, wherein the identification unit is a transponder, a magnetic card or a barcode.

6. The data acquisition and data processing system according to claim 4, wherein by means of a processing program the first and / or second processing result can be changed with the aid of a random generator, whereby the first and / or second processing result is increased, reduced, kept constant or deleted in order to to reduce or keep processing costs for customer-specific data constant.

7. A central computer unit (60) which works together with a data acquisition and data processing system for at least a first (A) and a second location (B) according to Claim 3, comprising: a database system which gives a customer a main account (70 ) with at least one first sub-account (72) of a first location (A) and a second sub-account (74) of a second location (B), customer-specific data being stored and processed in this first (72) and second sub-account (74), so that a first processing result of the first sub-account (72) and a second processing result of the second sub-account (74) are stored in the first (72) and second sub-account (74) and so that the first and second processing results for the end user by starting a processing program is changeable.

8. The central computer unit (60) according to spoke 7, wherein by means of the processing program, the first and / or second processing result can be changed with the aid of a random generator, as a result of which the first and or second processing result is increased, reduced, kept constant or deleted by a processing effort reduce or keep the customer-specific data constant.

9. A database term (100) associated with a data acquisition and processing system for at least a first (A) and a second Location (B) according to claim 4 and / or cooperating with a central computer unit (60) according to claim 7, comprising a third reading unit (110), a transmission unit (120) and an input unit (130), so that a first (72) and a second sub-account (74) can be called up independently on a central computer unit (60) for the customer with the aid of wireless data communication and so that the customer can change a first and a second processing result by starting a processing program.

10. The database terminal (100) according to claim 9, wherein by means of the processing program the first and / or second processing result can be changed with the aid of a random generator, whereby the first and / or second processing result is increased, reduced, kept constant or deleted in order to to reduce or keep a processing effort for the customer-specific data constant.

11. The database terminal (100) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the database terminal (100) is a home computer of the end user.

12. A method for data acquisition and data processing for at least a first (A) and a second location (B), comprising the following steps: a. Recognizing and forwarding an identification signal by a first reading unit (20) of the first location (A) or a second reading unit (30) of the second location (B) that is output by an identification unit (10) of an end user; b. Acquisition of customer-specific data with a first data acquisition unit (40) in the first location (A) or with a second data acquisition unit (50) in the second location (B); c. Transmission of the customer-specific data and the identification signal to a central computer unit (60), where a main account of the end user is identified with the aid of the identification signal and where the customer-specific data of the first location (A) in a first sub-account (72) of the main account and the customer-specific data of the second location (B) are stored in a second sub-account (74) of the main account; d. Creating a first processing result based on the customer-specific data of the first sub-account (72) and a second processing result based on the customer-specific data of the second sub-account (74) and storing the first and second processing results in the respective sub-account (72, 74) together with a first and second previous processing result of a previous process with steps a) to d); e. Transmitting the first or second previous processing result using wireless data communication to the first (40) or second data acquisition unit (50) and calculating an overall result from the customer-specific data and the first or second previous processing result.

13. The method according to spoke 10, further comprising the following steps: a. Collection of the customer-specific data, the processing result and the previous processing result of the first (72) and second sub-account (74) by the end user with the aid of a database terminal (100), on which the end user is identified by the identification unit (10); b. Starting a processing program with a random generator via a touchscreen of the database terminal (100), whereby the first and / or second processing result is increased, reduced, kept constant or deleted in order to reduce or keep a processing effort for the customer-specific data; and c. Storage of the first or second processing result in the first (72) or second sub-account (74) of the central computer unit (60).

14. A computer-controlled database system (1) for storing, managing and processing connected start (10) and end data (40) comprising:

a. an input / read-out unit (20), with the aid of which the initial data (10) can be input into the database system (1) and the end data (40) can be read out of the database system (1),

b. storage means (50, 52, 54, 56) in which the end data (40) can be stored at a specified address in the storage means (50, 52, 54, 56), and

c. Determination means (30) with which the specified address of the end data (40) can be determined from the initial data (10), so that the end data (40) by direct addressing from the specified address of the end data (40) in the storage means (50, 52, 54, 56) can be read out.

15. The database system (1) according to spoke 14, wherein the storage means (50) comprises at least two cascaded, physically separate storage areas (52, 54, 56).

16. The database system (1) according to spoke 15, wherein the end data (40) in a plurality of equally large areas in the first (52) and second (54) of the at least two storage areas (52, 54, 56) can be stored.

17. The database system (1) according to claim 15, wherein the end data (40) regardless of the physical limits of the at least two storage areas (52, 54, 56) continuously in the first (52) and second (54) of the at least two storage areas ( 52, 54, 56) can be stored.

18. The database system (1) according to claim 14, wherein the determination means (30) determines from the initial data (10) an indication that designates the specified address of the end data (40) or that at a point in the database system (1) fixed address of the end data (40) is assigned.

19. The database system (1) according to one of claims 14 to 18, wherein a computer program controlling the database system (1) is recorded at a central point and wherein the database system (1) can be used via a client-server relationship.

20. The database system (1) according to one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the computer system controlling the database system (1) is directly accessible for at least one client system.

21. The database system (1) according to spoke 19 or 20, wherein the computer program is stored together with the end data (40) in each case in the at least two memory areas (52, 54, 56) or wherein the computer program is separated in at least one program memory area the end data (40) is stored.

22. A method for storing, managing and processing related start (10) and end data (40) in a computer-controlled database system (1), comprising the following steps:

a. Inputting the initial data (10) into an input-readout unit (20);

b. Determining a fixed address of the end data (40) from the start data (10) at which the end data (40) are stored in a storage means (50, 52, 54, 56); and

c. Reading the end data (40) from the storage means (50, 52, 54, 56) with the aid of direct addressing of the end data (40).

23. The method according to spoke 22, further comprising storing final data (40) at a fixed address that can be determined from the initial data (10).

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the storage of the end data (40) takes place in at least two cascaded, physically separate storage areas (52, 54, 56) of the storage means (50).

25. The method according to spoke 24, wherein the end data (40) are stored in areas of equal size in the first (52) and second (54) of the at least two storage areas (52, 54, 56).

26. The method according to spoke 24, wherein the end data (40) regardless of the physical limits of the at least two memory areas (52, 54, 56) continuously in the first (52) and second (54) of the at least two memory areas (52, 54 , 56) can be saved

27. A method for determining the correspondence of a date which is stored on a plurality of computers in a memory assigned to the computer, the computer including a processor, comprising the steps: a. Receiving the same data query on the said date on each computer (7.1); b. Putting the computer in a defined initial state (7-2); c. Processing the same data query on each computer from the large number of computers (7.3); d. Reading out certain parts of the processor status (7.4); e. Return processor status and query result (7.5)

28. The method according to spoke 27, wherein the processor state is the state of the processor timer.

29. A database system comprising a plurality of computers with processors and a memory, the plurality of computers further comprising: means for receiving the same data query on the said date on each computer; Means for putting the computer in a defined initial state; Means for processing the same data query on each computer from the plurality of computers Means for reading out certain parts of the processor state and sending back the processor state and query result, the database system being adapted to carry out a method according to Claim 27 or 28.