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US5845296A
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Method and apparatus for implementing segmented arrays in a database
Assignee: Oracle International Corp
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Filing: 1996-07-10
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2016-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for implementing segmented arrays in a database system. According to one embodiment of the invention, rather than allocating a contiguous block of memory for each array, the memory for storing at least selected arrays is broken into smaller pieces of memory referred to herein as memory segments. When the memory for an array is broken into memory segments, the array is referred to herein as a "segmented array." Each memory segment associated with a segmented array is divided into one or more memory areas, each of which represent an element of that array. The memory segments associated with a segmented array need not be contiguous. According to another aspect of the invention, the number of segments allocated for a segmented array can be increased or decreased during execution. According to yet another aspect of the invention, only some of the memory segments required to store a segmented array are initially allocated. The remainder of the memory segments required to store the array are allocated on an as needed basis. According to another aspect of the invention, database systems may implement all or only some arrays as segmented arrays. In a database system that supports both segmented and contiguous arrays, whether the memory for a particular array is segmented or contiguous can depend on any number of factors.
Inventors
- 👤 Amit Jasuja
- 👤 Roger Taranto
- 👤 Juan Loaiza
- 👤 Gianfranco Putzolu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:35
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F12/00; G06F12/02; G06F12/0223; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99932; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99942; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945; Y10S707/99951; Y10S707/99956
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for allocating memory in a database system, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: detecting that an array for storing information related to said database system is required, wherein said array includes a plurality of elements; determining that a first amount of memory is required to store said array; determining that a set of one or more memory segments is to be allocated for said array, wherein each memory segment in said set of one or more memory segments is smaller than said first amount of memory; allocating said set of one or more memory segments, wherein said set of one or more memory segments need not be contiguous, wherein each of said set of one or more memory segments includes a set of one or more memory areas, and wherein each memory area in each of said sets of one or more memory areas is for storing data associated with a different element of said array; and storing in a segment header memory area data for identifying said set of one or more memory segments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
178 words
A method for allocating memory in a database system, said method comprising the computer-implemented steps of: detecting that an array for storing information related to said database system is required, wherein said array includes a plurality of elements; determining that a first amount of memory is required to store said array; determining that a set of one or more memory segments is to be allocated for said array, wherein each memory segment in said set of one or more memory segments is smaller than said first amount of memory; allocating said set of one or more memory segments, wherein said set of one or more memory segments need not be contiguous, wherein each of said set of one or more memory segments includes a set of one or more memory areas, and wherein each memory area in each of said sets of one or more memory areas is for storing data associated with a different element of said array; and storing in a segment header memory area data for identifying said set of one or more memory segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the sum of memory allocated for said set of one or more memory segments is equal to or greater than said first amount of memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: accessing a first element of said array by performing the steps of: reading the data in said segment header memory area; determining that a first memory area in one of said set of one or more memory segments is associated with said first element of said array; and accessing said first element by reading or writing data to said first memory area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
95 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of determining that a first memory area in one of said set of one or more memory segments is associated with said first element of said array further includes the steps of: detecting if said first memory area has been allocated; if said first memory area has not been allocated, then performing the steps of; allocating at least one additional memory segment for containing at least said first memory area; storing in said segment header memory area data for identifying said at least one additional memory segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining that said set of one or more memory segments is to be allocated for said array further comprises the steps of: determining that memory for only a first subset of elements in said plurality of elements is to be currently allocated; and including in said set of one or more memory segments enough memory segments to allocate memory for said first subset of elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the steps of: determining that memory needs to be allocated for a second subset of elements in said plurality of elements, wherein the elements in said second subset of elements are not part of said first subset of elements; allocating at least one additional memory segment for said second subset of elements; storing in said segment header memory area data for identifying a set of memory areas in said at least one additional memory segment for storing data associated with said second subset of elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: determining that a first of said set of one or more memory segments is no longer required; deallocating said first of said set of one or more memory segments; updating the data stored in said segment header memory area to indicate the deallocation of said first of said set of one or more memory segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: detecting said array will be used for storing a particular type of information, wherein said particular type of information is one of information about open cursors, information describing any user data required for the execution of a database statement, and information describing any data to be returned to a user after execution of said database statement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of determining that said set of one or more memory segments is to be allocated for said array further comprises the steps of: detecting the number of elements in said plurality of elements; detecting the size of the elements in said plurality of elements; and determining a first value representing the number of said plurality of elements on each of said set of one or more memory segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of determining said first value is performed by determining how many of said plurality of elements can be located on one of said set of one or more memory segments without requiring the memory segments in said set of one or more memory segments to exceed a predetermined maximum size for memory segments.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said step of determining that said set of one or more memory segments is to be allocated for said array further comprises the step of: determining a second value representing the number of said plurality of elements for which memory is to be currently allocated; and including in said set of one or more memory segments the number of memory segments required for the number of said plurality of elements represented by said second value.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for accessing data stored in a first element of an array, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of: accessing data stored in a segment header memory area, wherein the data stored in said segment header memory area identifies a set of one or more memory segments each containing a set of one or more memory areas, wherein each memory area in each said set of one or more memory areas is for storing data associated with a different element in said array, and wherein said set of one or more memory segments is not contiguous; determining that a first memory area of said set of one or more memory areas is associated with said first element of said array using the data accessed from said segment header memory area; and accessing said first memory area by reading or writing data to said first memory area.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for accessing data stored in a first element of an array, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of: accessing data stored in a segment header memory area, wherein the data stored in said segment header memory area identifies a set of one or more memory segments each containing a set of one or more memory areas, wherein each memory area in each said set of one or more memory areas is for storing data associated with a different element in said array, and wherein said set of one or more memory segments is not contiguous; determining that a first memory area of said set of one or more memory areas is associated with said first element of said array using the data accessed from said segment header memory area; and accessing said first memory area by reading or writing data to said first memory area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
98 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said step of determining that a first memory area of said set of one or more memory areas is associated with said first element of said array further includes the steps of: determining if said first memory area has been allocated; if said first memory area has not been allocated, then performing the steps of: allocating at least one additional memory segment for containing at least said first memory area; storing in said segment header memory area data for identifying said first memory area in said at least one additional memory segment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of: detecting said array is or will be used for storing a particular type of information, wherein said particular type of information is one of information about open cursors, information describing any user data required for the execution of a database statement, and information describing any data to be returned to a user after execution of said database statement.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for allocating memory in a database system, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of: detecting that an array is required, wherein said array includes a set of one or more elements; determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; if said predetermined condition is satisfied, then allocating a contiguous block of memory for the storage of said array; and if said predetermined condition is not satisfied, then performing the steps of: allocating a set of one or more memory segments for the storage of said array, wherein said set of one or more memory segments is not contiguous, wherein each of said set of one or more memory segments includes a set of one or more memory areas, and wherein each memory area in each of said sets of one or more memory segments is for storing data associated with a different element of said array; and storing data, wherein said data identifies said set of one or more memory areas in each memory segment of said set of one or more memory segments.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
176 words
A method for allocating memory in a database system, said method comprising the computer implemented steps of: detecting that an array is required, wherein said array includes a set of one or more elements; determining whether a predetermined condition is satisfied; if said predetermined condition is satisfied, then allocating a contiguous block of memory for the storage of said array; and if said predetermined condition is not satisfied, then performing the steps of: allocating a set of one or more memory segments for the storage of said array, wherein said set of one or more memory segments is not contiguous, wherein each of said set of one or more memory segments includes a set of one or more memory areas, and wherein each memory area in each of said sets of one or more memory segments is for storing data associated with a different element of said array; and storing data, wherein said data identifies said set of one or more memory areas in each memory segment of said set of one or more memory segments.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said step of determining if said predetermined condition is satisfied includes the steps of: determining that a particular amount of memory is required to store said array; determining whether said particular amount of memory is greater than a threshold amount of memory; if said particular amount of memory is not greater than said threshold amount of memory, then said predetermined condition is satisfied; and if said particular amount of memory is greater than said threshold amount of memory, then said predetermined condition is not satisfied.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method of claim 15, wherein said step of determining if said predetermined condition is satisfied includes the steps of: detecting said array will be used for storing a particular type of information; determining whether said particular type of information is one of a set of selected types of information; if said particular type of information is not one of said set of selected types of information, then said predetermined condition is satisfied; and if said particular type of information is one of said set of selected types of information, then said predetermined condition is not satisfied.
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