Patent US5878426A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5878426A
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Statistical database query using random sampling of records
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1996-12-23
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Granted: 1999-03-02
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Expires: 2016-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for expediting database queries by using random sampling. Data associated with a database attribute is partitioned into multiple data classes using a query language grouping command. Each of the data classes is randomly sampled on an individual basis to obtain a corresponding number of class data samples, each of which are stored in a separate sample database table. Database queries are then applied to each of the class data samples in the sample database table.
Inventors
- 👤 James Michael Plasek
- 👤 Ralph Edward Sipple
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:28
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/245; G06F16/2458; G06F16/2462; G06F16/2455; G06F16/24553; G06F16/24554; G06F16/24556; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for obtaining decision support query results from a database table having a plurality of records, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sampling at least one attribute of the database table to obtain sampled data; (b) partitioning the sampled data into data classes, wherein the at least one attribute includes a plurality of the data classes; and (c) applying a database query to the sampled data.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
68 words
A method for obtaining decision support query results from a database table having a plurality of records, the method comprising the steps of: (a) sampling at least one attribute of the database table to obtain sampled data; (b) partitioning the sampled data into data classes, wherein the at least one attribute includes a plurality of the data classes; and (c) applying a database query to the sampled data.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of partitioning the sampled data comprises the step of implementing a grouping command of the structured query language (SQL).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of implementing a grouping command of SQL comprises the step of executing an SQL "GROUP BY" command on the at least one attribute of the sampled data.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of partitioning the sampled data comprises the step of implementing a grouping command of the object query language (OQL).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the step of implementing a grouping command of OQL comprises the step of executing an OQL "GROUP BY" command on the at least one attribute of the sampled data.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of sampling at least one attribute comprises the step of randomly selecting a predetermined percentage of the records in the database table to provide corresponding attribute data.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of creating a second database table to store the sampled data.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying a database query to the sampled data comprises the step of applying the database query to all of the sampled data from all of the data classes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of applying a database query to the sampled data comprises the step of individually applying the database query to the sampled data associated with each of the data classes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of extrapolating results of the database query to all data corresponding to the attribute in the database table.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for obtaining decision support query results from a database table having a plurality of records, the method comprising the steps of: (a) partitioning data associated with a database attribute into a plurality of data groups; (b) individually performing a random sample of a predetermined accuracy on each of the plurality of data groups to obtain a corresponding number of group data samples; and (c) applying a database query to each of the group data samples.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for obtaining decision support query results from a database table having a plurality of records, the method comprising the steps of: (a) partitioning data associated with a database attribute into a plurality of data groups; (b) individually performing a random sample of a predetermined accuracy on each of the plurality of data groups to obtain a corresponding number of group data samples; and (c) applying a database query to each of the group data samples.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of partitioning data comprises the step of implementing a structured query language (SQL) grouping command.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 12, wherein the step of implementing an SQL grouping command comprises the step of executing an SQL "GROUP BY" command on the data associated with the database attribute.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of partitioning data comprises the step of implementing a object query language (OQL) grouping command.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14, wherein the step of implementing an OQL grouping command comprises the step of executing an OQL "GROUP BY" command on the data associated with the database attribute.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of individually performing a random sample comprises the step of randomly selecting a predetermined percentage of the data associated with the database attribute from the records in the database table.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 11, wherein the step of individually performing a random sample comprises the step of randomly selecting a predetermined amount of the data associated with the database attribute from the records in the database table.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of creating a sample database table to store the group data samples.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of extrapolating results of the database query to a total of the data associated with the database attribute.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for providing result approximations in database queries, comprising the steps of: (a) partitioning data associated with a database attribute into a plurality of data classes using a structured query language (SQL) GROUP BY command; (b) individually performing a random sample on each of the plurality of data classes to obtain a corresponding number of class data samples; (c) storing each of the class data samples in at least one sample database table; and (d) applying database queries using SQL commands to each of the class data samples in their corresponding sample database tables.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
95 words
A method for providing result approximations in database queries, comprising the steps of: (a) partitioning data associated with a database attribute into a plurality of data classes using a structured query language (SQL) GROUP BY command; (b) individually performing a random sample on each of the plurality of data classes to obtain a corresponding number of class data samples; (c) storing each of the class data samples in at least one sample database table; and (d) applying database queries using SQL commands to each of the class data samples in their corresponding sample database tables.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of extrapolating results of selected ones of the database queries to all of the data associated with a database attribute.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of individually performing a random sample comprises the step of providing an accuracy value to determine the number of individual data selections which must be selected to obtain a desired accuracy within the class data samples.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 20, wherein the step of individually performing a random sample comprises the step of providing a confidence value to determine the number of individual data selections which must be selected to obtain a desired confidence for the class data samples.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
85 words
A database architecture for obtaining decision support query results from a database table having a plurality of records, the architecture comprising: (a) grouping means for partitioning data associated with a database attribute into a plurality of data classes; (b) sampling means for individually performing a random sample of a predetermined accuracy on each of the plurality of data classes to obtain a corresponding number of class data samples; and (c) query input means for applying a database query to each of the class data samples.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
85 words
A database architecture for obtaining decision support query results from a database table having a plurality of records, the architecture comprising: (a) grouping means for partitioning data associated with a database attribute into a plurality of data classes; (b) sampling means for individually performing a random sample of a predetermined accuracy on each of the plurality of data classes to obtain a corresponding number of class data samples; and (c) query input means for applying a database query to each of the class data samples.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-01 | 2002-08-31 | 2003-03-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-01 | 2006-08-31 | 2007-03-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-01 | 2010-08-31 | 2011-03-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |