Abstract: A storage/retrieval system providing a two month digital data accumulation in archival storage and a one month digital data accumulation storage (for monthly statements) of document images and information. A Master Print Index File correlates data on each document with its digital counterpart located on a specific optical platter and specific record number on the platter. The Master Print Index File is sorted and provided to a print subsystem which can access, on a daily basis, the needed digital image data from its magnetic disk after the magnetic disk has copied the current cycle of image data from the optical platters.

Abstract: A document processing, archival storage and printout system such as for handling customer checking accounts. Original checks/documents are processed into digital image data then stored temporarily in magnetic media and transferred to optical long-term archival storage. The system retrieves and accumulates monthly groups of digital image data, then sorts one-day's worth (1/22 of 22 business-day accumulation) by account number so that printing means can print statements, each day, covering 1/22 of the total accounts existing for that month. Massive amounts of data can be accumulated and stored, for example, for 500,000 to 1,000,000 customer accounts, while the system operates to rapidly retrieve and printout sufficient customer statements each day so that each of the many customers will still receive a personal monthly updated statement during the appropriate month.