Method for storing and retrieving data objects

Abstract

The invention applies the economies of scale to data processing and provides automated methods of collecting, categorizing, indexing, storing and retrieving large amounts of data from a wide variety of sources. The invention discloses the use of location and industry templates to categorize documents and other data objects. Location and industry data for each document is translated into a set of assignment numerals that are used to create a header number. Each document or data object is indexed and stored in a data warehouse in accordance with the header number. Subsequently, documents and data objects are retrieved from the data warehouse using the index of header numbers and the location and industry templates.

1 - 25 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         26 . A method of operating an electronic switch comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of data objects;    storing the data object in a plurality of data comparitors;    receiving a first signal indicating that all of the comparitors are busy;    receiving an additional data object;    providing a holding area for data objects;    storing the additional data object in the holding area;    receiving a second signal indicating that a comparator is free; and    storing the additional data object in the comparator.    
     
     
         27 . A method of storing data in a data warehouse, comprising: 
 receiving a plurality of data objects    storing the data objects in a plurality of data comparitors, such that the comparitors are busy;    receiving an additional data object while the comparitors are busy;    storing the additional data object in a holding area; and    transferring the additional data object from the holding area to one of the comparitors when the comparitor is no longer busy.    
     
     
         28 . An apparatus for storing data in a data warehouse, comprising: 
 a data receiver that receives a data object;    a plurality of comparitors, each for indexing a received data object for storage in the data warehouse;    a busy transfer switch that determines if any of the comparitors is available for indexing a data object; and    a holding file that temporarily holds a data object when the comparitors are not available for indexing.    
     
     
         29 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a polling unit that searches for a data object to be stored in the data warehouse.    
     
     
         30 . The apparatus according to  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 a sensing device, associated with the comparitors, for sending a signal to the busy transfer switch indicating that the comparitors are not available for indexing.    
     
     
         31 . The apparatus according to  claim 30 , wherein the busy transfer switch receives the signal from the sensing device and thereby directs the received data object to the holding file.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus according to  claim 31 , wherein the sensing device sends a second signal to the busy transfer switch indicating that a comparitor is available for indexing.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus according to  claim 32 , wherein the busy transfer switch directs that the data object in the holding file to the comparitor available for indexing.  
     
     
         34 . A method of storing a data object in a data warehouse, comprising: 
 receiving a data object;    identifying a location related to the data object;    identifying an industry related to the data object; and    indexing the data object in the data warehouse based on the identified location and industry.    
     
     
         35 . A method of retrieving a data object stored in a data warehouse, comprising: 
 receiving a request for a data object stored in the data warehouse;    parsing the request to identify a location and an industry related to the request; and    retrieving the data object from the data warehouse based on the identified location and industry.