US5893090A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for performing an aggregate query in a database system
Assignee: Informix Software Inc
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Filing: 1997-01-31
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Granted: 1999-04-06
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Expires: 2017-01-31
Abstract
Abstract In a computer-implemented method for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, a random sample of records is extracted from the source database to generate a sample database. Then an aggregate query is performed on the sample database to generate a sample result, and an estimate of the aggregate query request on the source database is derived from the sample result.
Inventors
- 👤 Paul Friedman
- 👤 Michael Smedberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 08:39
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F16/00; G06F16/20; G06F16/24; G06F16/245; G06F16/2458; G06F16/2462; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99931; Y10S707/99933; Y10S707/99935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
56 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, comprising: selecting a random sample of a plurality of records in the source database; performing an aggregate query on each sample to generate a sample result; and deriving an estimated response to the aggregate query request from the sample result.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
56 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, comprising: selecting a random sample of a plurality of records in the source database; performing an aggregate query on each sample to generate a sample result; and deriving an estimated response to the aggregate query request from the sample result.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the aggregate query request on the sample includes an operation selected from the group consisting of count, sum, average, minimum, and maximum.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the source database has a number of records F, the sample has a number of records N, the aggregate query request includes an operation selected from the group consisting of count and sum, and the estimate is equal to the sample result multiplied by F and divided by N.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the aggregate query request includes an operation selected from the group consisting of average, minimum and maximum, and wherein the estimate is equal to the sample result.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising deriving a statistic quantifying the quality of the estimate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the statistic includes a confidence interval.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the statistic includes a measure of a certainty in the confidence interval.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 further comprising receiving the measure of certainty from a user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the statistic includes a margin of error for the estimate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the margin of error is a function of z and count ( ), where z is a confidence level and count ( ) is the number of records in the sample fitting any selection criteria in the aggregate query request.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the aggregate query request includes a count operation and the margin of error for the count operation is ##EQU5##
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the margin of error is a function of z, σ, and count ( ), where z is a confidence level, σ is a standard deviation, and count ( ) is the number of records in the sample fitting any selection criteria in the aggregate query request.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein ##EQU6## where sum(a) is a sum of a field from records in the sample fitting any selection criteria in the aggregate query request.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the aggregate query request includes a sum operation and the margin of error of the sum operation is ##EQU7##
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the aggregate query request includes an average operation and the margin of error of the average operation is ##EQU8##
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the aggregate query request includes a maximum operation and the margin of error of the maximum operation is ##EQU9##
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the aggregate query request includes a minimum operation and the margin of error of the minimum operation is ##EQU10##
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the aggregate query request includes a compound expression and the method further comprises deriving a statistic quantifying the quality of the estimate of the compound expression.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a sample database from the selected records.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the sample database is generated prior to a receipt of the aggregate query request.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
82 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, comprising: extracting a plurality of random samples of records from the source database to generate a plurality of sample databases; receiving a user input to select one of the plurality of sample databases; performing an aggregate query on the selected one of the plurality of sample databases to generate a sample result; and deriving an estimated response to the aggregate query request from the sample result.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
82 words
A computer-implemented method for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, comprising: extracting a plurality of random samples of records from the source database to generate a plurality of sample databases; receiving a user input to select one of the plurality of sample databases; performing an aggregate query on the selected one of the plurality of sample databases to generate a sample result; and deriving an estimated response to the aggregate query request from the sample result.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
71 words
A computer program for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, the computer program tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer to: select a random sample of a plurality of records in the source database; perform an aggregate query on the sample to generate a sample result; and derive an estimated response to the aggregate query request from the sample result.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
71 words
A computer program for generating a response to an aggregate query request on a source database, the computer program tangibly stored on a computer-readable medium, comprising instructions for causing a computer to: select a random sample of a plurality of records in the source database; perform an aggregate query on the sample to generate a sample result; and derive an estimated response to the aggregate query request from the sample result.
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) | 2002-04-05 | 2002-10-05 | 2003-04-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-04-05 | 2006-10-05 | 2007-04-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-04-05 | 2010-10-05 | 2011-04-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |