US5943666A — Method and apparatus for optimizing queries acros…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 209 words

A heterogeneous database system including plural databases, one database acting as a system manager (hereafter "system manager") which performs functions to provide a transparent user database encompassing both said one database and other databases, said system manager comprising: a memory for storing (i) a database management procedure, (ii) a catalogue of database functions that are supported by said plural databases, including but not limited to join methods, aggregate functions and search algorithms, and (iii) a query optimizer procedure; and a processor coupled to said memory and responsive to a user query which requires execution of a database function with respect to data stored at a first database, for executing said query optimizer procedure, said processor, under control of said query optimizer procedure, employing entries from said catalogue relating to database functions supported by both said first database and a second database, to establish query plans for responding to said query, a first said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said first database and a second said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said second database, and for choosing one of said query plans in accordance with a determined criteria, to be executed by said database management procedure in response to said user query.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 209 words

A heterogeneous database system including plural databases, one database acting as a system manager (hereafter "system manager") which performs functions to provide a transparent user database encompassing both said one database and other databases, said system manager comprising: a memory for storing (i) a database management procedure, (ii) a catalogue of database functions that are supported by said plural databases, including but not limited to join methods, aggregate functions and search algorithms, and (iii) a query optimizer procedure; and a processor coupled to said memory and responsive to a user query which requires execution of a database function with respect to data stored at a first database, for executing said query optimizer procedure, said processor, under control of said query optimizer procedure, employing entries from said catalogue relating to database functions supported by both said first database and a second database, to establish query plans for responding to said query, a first said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said first database and a second said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said second database, and for choosing one of said query plans in accordance with a determined criteria, to be executed by said database management procedure in response to said user query.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 54 words

The heterogeneous database system as recited in claim 1, wherein said processor, under control of said query optimizer procedure, employs entries from said catalogue relating to functions supported by said first database, to emulate a query optimization procedure for said first database, approximately as said query optimization procedure is executed by said first database.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 25 words

The heterogeneous database system as recited in claim 1, wherein said determined criteria for choosing one of said query plans is an execution cost thereof.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 57 words

The heterogeneous database system as recited in claim 1, wherein said catalogue includes, for each database type, entries which define supported functions, said supported functions at least including: a search algorithm or algorithms used in said database type; a data access method or methods used in said database type; and join methods used by said database type.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 22 words

The heterogeneous database system as recited in claim 1, wherein said second database is the database that acts as said system manager.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 70 words

The heterogeneous database system as recited in claim 5, wherein said processor employs one of said query plans, chosen in accord with said determined criteria, to access data from one of said plural databases and to present said data to a user processor as though said data had come from the database that acts as said system manager, whether or not said data came therefrom or from said first database.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 20 words

The heterogeneous database system as recited in claim 1, wherein said first database is remotely positioned from said system manager.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 224 words

A memory media including software procedures to provide transparent access to plural heterogeneous databases, one of said databases acting as a system manager (hereafter "system manager") which performs functions of a transparent user database encompassing both said one of said databases and other databases, said memory media comprising: a) means for causing said system manager to store (i) a database management procedure, (ii) a catalogue of database functions that are supported by said plural databases, including but not limited to join methods, aggregate functions and search algorithms, and (iii) a query optimizer procedure; and b) means for controlling a processor in said system manager to be responsive to a user query which requires execution of a database function with respect to data stored at a first database, to execute said query optimizer procedure, said query optimizer procedure employing entries from said catalogue relating to database functions supported by both said system manager and said first database, by establishing query plans for responding to said query, a first said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said first database and a second said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said system manager, and for choosing one of said query plans in accordance with a determined criteria, to be executed by said database management procedure in response to said user query.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 224 words

A memory media including software procedures to provide transparent access to plural heterogeneous databases, one of said databases acting as a system manager (hereafter "system manager") which performs functions of a transparent user database encompassing both said one of said databases and other databases, said memory media comprising: a) means for causing said system manager to store (i) a database management procedure, (ii) a catalogue of database functions that are supported by said plural databases, including but not limited to join methods, aggregate functions and search algorithms, and (iii) a query optimizer procedure; and b) means for controlling a processor in said system manager to be responsive to a user query which requires execution of a database function with respect to data stored at a first database, to execute said query optimizer procedure, said query optimizer procedure employing entries from said catalogue relating to database functions supported by both said system manager and said first database, by establishing query plans for responding to said query, a first said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said first database and a second said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said system manager, and for choosing one of said query plans in accordance with a determined criteria, to be executed by said database management procedure in response to said user query.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 51 words

The memory media as recited in claim 8, wherein said means b) causes said processor to employ entries from said catalogue relating to functions supported by said first database, to emulate a query optimization procedure for said first database approximately as said query optimization procedure is executed by said first database.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 30 words

The memory media as recited in claim 8, wherein said means b) causes said processor to utilize execution cost as said determined criteria for choosing one of said query plans.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 57 words

The memory media as recited in claim 8, wherein the catalogue of means a) includes, for each database type, entries which define supported functions, said supported functions including: a search algorithm or algorithms used in said database type; a data access method or methods used in said database type; and join methods used by said database type.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 73 words

The memory media as recited in claim 8, wherein said means b) causes said processor to employ one of said query plans, chosen in accord with said determined criteria, to access data from one of said plural databases and to present said data to a user processor as though said data had come from said system manager database, whether or not said data came from said system manager database or said first database.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 19 words

The memory media as recited in claim 8, wherein said first database is remotely positioned from said system manager.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 209 words

A method for choosing an optimized query plan for accessing data in a heterogeneous database system, one database acting as a system manager (hereafter "system manager") which performs functions of a transparent user database, said method implemented by said system manager and comprising the steps of: a) storing (i) a database management procedure, (ii) a catalogue of database functions that are supported by said plural databases, including but not limited to join methods, aggregate functions and search algorithms, and (iii) a query optimizer procedure; b) responding to a user query which requires execution of a database function with respect to data stored at a first database, by executing said query optimizer procedure, said query optimizer procedure employing entries from said catalogue relating to database functions supported by both said first database and a second database, and establishing query plans for responding to said query, a first said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said first database and a second said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said second database; c) choosing one of said query plans in accordance with a determined criteria; and d) executing said database management procedure, using a query plan chosen in step c) in response to said user query.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 209 words

A method for choosing an optimized query plan for accessing data in a heterogeneous database system, one database acting as a system manager (hereafter "system manager") which performs functions of a transparent user database, said method implemented by said system manager and comprising the steps of: a) storing (i) a database management procedure, (ii) a catalogue of database functions that are supported by said plural databases, including but not limited to join methods, aggregate functions and search algorithms, and (iii) a query optimizer procedure; b) responding to a user query which requires execution of a database function with respect to data stored at a first database, by executing said query optimizer procedure, said query optimizer procedure employing entries from said catalogue relating to database functions supported by both said first database and a second database, and establishing query plans for responding to said query, a first said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said first database and a second said query plan based upon an optimized execution thereof at said second database; c) choosing one of said query plans in accordance with a determined criteria; and d) executing said database management procedure, using a query plan chosen in step c) in response to said user query.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 45 words

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein step b) employs entries from said catalogue relating to functions supported by said first database, and emulates a query optimization procedure for said first database approximately as said query optimization procedure is executed by said first database.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein step c) employs execution cost as said determined criteria for choosing one of said query plans.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said second database is the database that acts as said system manager.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 63 words

The method as recited in claim 17, wherein step d) employs one of said query plans, chosen in accord with said determined criteria, to access data from one of said plural databases and to present said data to a user processor as though said data had come from said database that acts as said system manager, whether or not said data came therefrom.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-08-23	2003-02-22	2003-08-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-08-23	2007-02-22	2007-08-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-08-23	2011-02-22	2011-08-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for optimizing queries across heterogeneous databases

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