CIRCULATING CONTEXT ADDRESSABLE MEMORY

摘要

A memory system (10) for storing and retrieving data sequences of symbols in response to a query sequence. Each of the data sequences and the query sequence is made up of three types of symbols, constants, delimiters, and variables. A data sequence is retrieved in response to a query sequence if the two sequences can be made identical by replacing each variable in each sequence by constants or combinations of constants and delimiters, said combinations beginning and ending with a delimiter. The data sequences are stored in a circulating memory store (12) in which each symbol periodically passes by a number of Tap points (22) at which it is available for reading. Each of the Tap points (22) contains a processor (18) which is capable of comparing the stored data sequences with query sequence. A unique sub-system (120) is provided for entering new data sequences into the circulating memory store (12) without interrupting the operation of the data retrieval functions. This data entry technique automatically collects fragmented storage areas which were too small to store the new data sequence and combines these into a larger space into which the new data is inserted.