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Database system with buffer manager providing per page native data compression and decompression

DC
  • US 5,794,228 A
  • Filed: 12/11/1995
  • Issued: 08/11/1998
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. In a computer system having a database storing a database table, said database table comprising user information, a method for storing and retrieving the database table comprising:

  • creating a plurality of data pages for storing user information on a storage device, each data page comprising a plurality of storage blocks and including information describing a type of information stored by the page and a preferred compression methodology for compressing user information stored by the page;

    loading into memory user information from a particular data page by retrieving said particular data page and decompressing user information stored by the particular data page into a memory buffer;

    modifying said user information which has been decompressed; and

    storing the modified user information back in the particular data page by;

    (i) determining the preferred compression methodology for the user information, by checking the information stored by the particular page describing the preferred compression methodology,(ii) compressing the modified user information into a memory buffer, using said preferred compression methodology, and(iii) storing the compressed modified user information back into the particular data page;

    wherein said database table presents user information in row and column format, and wherein user information for a particular column is stored on one or more particular data pages such that each of said particular data pages stores user information only for said particular column.

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