Abstract: A data storage method and a data storage structure are provided. In one aspect, a method of storing data includes setting a first data node in a first storage area; setting a second data node in a second storage area; wherein said second data node is an element of a plurality of elements forming a first flat table of at least one flat table in the second storage area; and said step of setting a first data node includes storing in the first data node a two-tuple linker which comprises a first identifier indicating said first flat table and a second identifier indicating the row of said element in the first flat table. In another aspect a corresponding data storage structure is further provided. According to the present invention, it is able to achieve easily data chaining via a two-tuple linker in a special-purpose processor that does not support a pointer of memory address, thereby reducing requirements on space needed for data storage and enhancing efficiency of chaining each data segment.

Abstract: A system and method for an end user to change the operation of a data flow filter mechanism, such as a firewall, that operates to control data flows between a plurality of protected computing devices and one or more non-protected computing devices. With the system and method, an administrator of a sub-network of computing devices may set a client computing device's scope of rules/policies that may be changed by a user of the client computing device, with regard to a data flow filter mechanism. The user of the client computing device, or the client computing device itself, may then log onto the data flow filter mechanism and modify the operation of the data flow filter mechanism within the limits established by the administrator.