An implementation of a data management system on an associative processor

Recent years have witnessed a widespread and intensive effort to develop systems to store, maintain, and rapidly access data bases of remarkably varied size and type. Such systems are variously referred to as Data Base Management Systems (DBMS), Information Retrieval Systems, Management Information Systems and other similar titles. To a large extent the burden of developing such systems has fallen on the computer industry. The problem of providing devices on which data bases can be stored has been reasonably well solved by disc and drum systems developed for the purpose and commercially available at the present time. The dual problem of providing both rapid query and easy update procedures has proved to be more vexing.