Accelerating queries using delayed value projection of enumerated storage

• US 20080162414A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sybase Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Original Assignee: Sybase Incorporated (SAP SE)
• Inventors: Yen, Fang-Ying, MacNicol, Roger D., Kirk, Steven A., Walrath, David E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,305,080 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/334 Query execution G06F16/335 takes precedence

Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for processing a database query are presented. Steps for identifying a table needed to resolve the query, creating an enumeration value, determining whether the enumeration value is semantically equivalent to data from a data field in the table, and using a temporary data structure to evaluate the query are disclosed.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for processing a database query, the method comprising:

identifying a table, wherein the table comprises information needed in order to resolve the query, and wherein a column in the table is represented using enumeration values and a lookup-table to translate each of the enumeration values into data values for the column; and

evaluating the query, wherein the step of evaluating the query comprises;

executing one or more processing steps, wherein the processing steps comprise operations on the data values;

determining if the enumeration values can be used instead of the data values; and

utilizing the enumeration values instead of the data values in at least one of the one or more processing steps, if it is determined that the enumeration values can be used instead of the data values.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining if the enumeration values can be used instead of the data values comprises:

for each of the one or more processing steps, determining if the enumeration values are semantically equivalent to the data values.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of executing the one or more processing steps comprises:

substituting the enumeration values for the data values.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the enumeration values are within a set of values defined by a data type.

5. The method of claim 1, the step of evaluating the query further comprising:

retrieving the data values using the lookup-table if it is determined that the enumeration values can not be used instead of the data values; and

utilizing the data values in at least one of the one or more processing steps.

6. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for enabling a processor to process a database query, the computer program logic comprising:

identifying means for enabling a processor to identify a table, wherein the table contains information needed in order to resolve the query, and wherein a column in the table is represented using enumeration values and a lookup-table to translate each of the enumeration values into data values for the column; and

evaluating means for enabling a processor to evaluate the query, wherein the evaluating means comprises;

executing means for enabling a processor to execute one or more processing steps, wherein the processing steps comprise operations on the original data values;

determining means for enabling a processor to determine if the enumeration values can be used instead of the data values; and

utilizing means for enabling a processor to utilize the enumeration values instead of the data values in at least one of the one or more processing steps, if it is determined that the enumeration values can be used instead of the original data values.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the determining means comprises:

second determining means for enabling a processor to determine if the enumeration values are semantically equivalent to the data values.

8. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the executing means comprises:

substituting means for enabling a processor to substitute the enumeration values for the data values.

9. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the enumeration values are within a set of values defined by a data type.

10. The computer program product of claim 6, the evaluating means further comprising:

retrieving means for enabling a processor to retrieve the original data values using the lookup-table if it is determined that the enumeration values can not be used instead of the data values; and

second utilizing means for enabling a processor to utilize the data values in at least one of the one or more processing steps.

11. A system capable of processing a database query, comprising:

a first module to identify a table, wherein the table contains information needed in order to resolve the query, and wherein a column in the table is represented using enumeration values and a lookup-table to translate each of the enumeration values into data values for the column; and

a second module to evaluate the query, wherein the second module comprises;

a third module to execute one or more processing steps, wherein the processing steps comprise operations on the data values;

a fourth module to determine if the enumeration values can be used instead of the data values; and

a fifth module to utilize the enumeration values instead of the data values in at least one of the one or more processing steps, if it is determined that the enumeration values can be used instead of the original data values.