EP0772139A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for segmenting a database
Assignee: Filetek Inc
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Filing: 1996-10-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A relational database method and apparatus includes a database that is divided into multiple data segments, each of which may be independently stored on one of a variety of storage devices. As data from the relational database is being loaded, the number of data segments will increase. A range index is used as a high level filter to determine which indices and data segments will be used to process a query of the database.
Inventors
- 👤 John G. Burgess
- 👤 Randall E. Breeden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:11
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/28; G06F16/284; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99952; Y10S707/99953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A method for storing a database in different memory devices, comprising the steps of: dividing the database into a plurality of data segments, each said data segment corresponding to a different range of values in a selected field of the database; storing each of said data segments in said different memory devices; storing for each of said stored data segments, a segment index identifying the corresponding data segment; and storing a range index with entries corresponding to the ranges of the selected field, each of the entries of the range index identifying the one of the segment index for the data segments corresponding to that range.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of organizing the storage devices such that recently created records are stored on faster storage devices than older records created after the recently created records.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of retrieving records from a database divided into a plurality of data segments, indexed by and corresponding to at least one segment index indexed by corresponding entries in a range index, the method comprising the steps of: receiving a query including at least one range parameter and at least one query-value; identifying a range-value of the range index from the received range parameter to obtain a first reference to at least one of the segment indices; matching the query-value to the first referenced segment indices to obtain a second reference to each said data segment that corresponds to the segment indices referenced by the first reference; and retrieving the records corresponding to the second reference in each said data segment that corresponds to the segment indices referenced by the first reference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the retrieving step further comprises the step of retrieving the records from different data segments in parallel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the range parameter is a date, and wherein the step of identifying further comprises the step of identifying the range-value corresponding to a date range.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of retrieving records stored on different storage devices.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of organizing the storage devices such that recently created records are stored on faster storage devices than older records created after the recently created records.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the step of receiving a query further comprises the step of allowing the database to be accessed and queried by a user as a single relational database.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of storing the segment indices on different storage devices than said corresponding data segments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the range further comprises the step of corresponding the range-value to a time range.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
127 words
A data storage and retrieval system for accessing elements of a relational database divided into a plurality of data segments, the system comprising: a plurality of storage means for respectively storing each of the plurality of data segments; a plurality of segment indices for indexing elements of the data segments, each segment index corresponding to one of the plurality of data segments; and a range index for indexing the plurality of segment indices based on a first parameter specifying a temporal range; wherein the elements of the relational database are retrieved using the range index to identify one or more of the segment indices to access based on the first parameter and for each segment index accessed, identifying the elements to retrieve based on a second parameter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the first and second parameters are contained within an SQL query of the relational database.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of storage means are different storage devices including at least one of: magnetic disk, erasable optical disk, WORM optical disk, and automated tape storage.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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