Abstract: RFID tag data is stored as a tag object in a hierarchical database structure. Date/Time/periods of higher levels of granularity are encoded integrally in the database structure, avoiding need for an index for such time periods. The database controller identifies a relevant tag object and then drills down through relevant year, day and hour nodes to arrive at an observation at a leaf node. The observations are stored as objects having the relevant data values and the time periods of lowest granularity.

Abstract: A process data capture and reporting system captures process data values at sensors. A client computer appends absolute-value time stamps to the values to complete records, which are uploaded to a server. The server writes the records to a persistent database. At a later stage, the server retrieves selected records, and performs a very fast conversion of the time stamps to a calendar format with “granular” values for units such as day, month, or minute. The conversion is performed in an optimised manner with use of look-up tables in memory. This minimises processor overhead, and is thus very advantageous where data volumes are high and/or near real time reporting is required.

Abstract: A process data capture and reporting system captures process data values at sensors (S1 . . . Sn). A client computer (C) appends absolute-value time stamps to the values to complete records, which are uploaded to a server (S). The server (S) writes the records to a persistent database (DB). At a later stage, the server (S) retrieves selected records, and performs a very fast conversion of the time stamps to a calendar format with “granular” values for units such as day, month, or minute. The conversion is performed in an optimised manner with use of look-up tables in memory. This minimises processor overhead, and is thus very advantageous where data volumes are high and/or near real time reporting is required.