SERVER INTEGRATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROCESSING PRECOMPUTED VIEWS

• US 20020077997A1
• Filed: 03/25/1999
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Workday Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Informix Software, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Inventors: JOHNSON, GALT, COLE, RICHARD L., MCKENNA, WILLIAM J., JAZAYERI, NASI, COLBY, LATHA S., HASLAM, EDWARD P., WILHITE, DAVID G. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,594,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24539 using cached or materialised query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24556 Aggregation; Duplicate elimination
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99934 Query formulation, input preparation, or translation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99952 Coherency, e.g. same view to multiple users

Abstract

Server-integrated methods and apparatus for processing precomputed views for answering user queries on a database are described. In accordance with one embodiment, a system for answering user queries on a database stored on a server includes a query processing system integrated into the server and configured to respond to user queries, and a query processing system integrated into the server and configured to process precomputed results of user queries on the database. In another aspect, a method of answering user queries on a database stored on a server includes responding to user queries received at the server, and processing, at the server, precomputed results of user queries on the database.

Claims

1. A system for answering user queries on a database stored on a server, comprising:

a query processing system integrated into the server and configured to respond to user queries; and

a query processing system integrated into the server and configured to process precomputed results of user queries on the database.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to compute precomputed views.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to update precomputed views to reflect changes in the database.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to manage precomputed views.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system includes a rewriter configured to rewrite user queries using precomputed views.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to provide information to users relating to precomputed views and user query history.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system includes an advisor configured to analyze precomputation strategy effectiveness.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system includes an advisor configured to generate a report reflecting current precomputation strategy effectiveness.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the generated report includes a measure of the benefit of a precomputed view relative to other precomputed views.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the generated report includes a measure of the benefit of a precomputed view relative to candidate views.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system includes an advisor configured to generate a report reflecting precomputed view utilization.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to define an analysis space consisting of a subset of all possible views for the database based upon user query history.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to generate a candidate view.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to utilize database meta data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the query processing system is configured to utilize functional dependencies.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising computing, at the server, precomputed views.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising updating, at the server, precomputed views to reflect changes in the database.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising managing, at the server, precomputed views.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising rewriting, at the server, user queries using precomputed views.

21. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing, from the server, information to users relating to precomputed views and user query history.

22. The method of claim 16, further comprising, at the server, analyzing precomputation strategy effectiveness.

23. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating, at the server, a report reflecting current precomputation strategy effectiveness.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the generated report includes a measure of the benefit of a precomputed view relative to other precomputed views.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the generated report includes a measure of the benefit of a precomputed view relative to candidate views.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating, at the server, a report reflecting precomputed view utilization.

27. The method of claim 16, further comprising defining, at the server, an analysis space consisting of a subset of all possible views for the database based upon user query history.

28. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating, at the server, a candidate view.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising utilizing database meta data at the server.

30. The method of claim 16, further comprising utilizing functional dependencies at the server.

16. A method of answering user queries on a database stored on a server, comprising:

responding to user queries received at the server; and

processing, at the server, precomputed results of user queries on the database.