User-defined search using index exploitation

• US 6,266,663 B1
• Filed: 07/09/1998
• Issued: 07/24/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pan, Hsin, Talmoud, Shahrokh, Lee, Daniel T., Jou, Michelle Mei-chiou, Wang, Yun, Li, Ping, Tran, Brian Thinh-Vinh, Fuh, Gene Y. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corrielus, Jean M.
• Application Number:
  US09/113,976
• Time in Patent Office: 1,111 Days
• Field of Search: 707/4, 707/3, 707/2, 707/5
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24547 Optimisations to support specific applications; Extensibility of optimisers
• 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 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for a computer-implemented model for user-defined search in Relational Database Management Systems. A statement is executed in a database stored on a data storage device connected to a computer. Data that is qualified by user-defined functions is located based on a model that supports user-defined search.

Claims

1. A method of executing a statement in a database stored on a data storage device connected to a computer, the method comprising:

creating an index extension having one or more search methods; and

locating data selected by one or more user-defined functions based on a model that supports user-defined search, wherein each user-defined function references the index extension and wherein the data is located using one or more search methods of the index extension.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the index extension comprises a user-defined index type based on the model.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of creating an index to data in the database based on the user-defined index type in response to user input.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving one or more index extensions, comprising user-defined index types;

receiving one or more user-defined indexes of the one or more user-defined index types; and

receiving one or more user-defined functions from a user, which include index exploitation rules.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of receiving, from a user, a query that specifies one of the user-defined functions.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of exploiting an index using index exploitation rules defined in the user-defined function specified in the query.

7. An apparatus for executing a statement, comprising:

a computer having a data storage device connected thereto, wherein the data storage device stores a database;

one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for creating an index extension having one or more search methods and locating data selected by one or more user-defined functions based on a model that supports user-defined search, wherein each user-defined function references the index extension and wherein the data is located using one or more search methods of the index extension.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the index extension comprises a user-defined index type based on the model.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising the means for creating an index to data in the database based on the user-defined index type in response to user input.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising the means for:

receiving one or more index extensions, comprising user-defined index types;

receiving one or more user-defined indexes of the one or more user-defined index types; and

receiving one or more user-defined functions from a user, which reference index exploitation rules from the one or more user-defined indexes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising the means for receiving, from a user, a query that specifies one of the user-defined functions.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising the means for exploiting an index using index exploitation rules defined in the user-defined function specified in the query.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a computer program carrier readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for executing a statement in a database stored in a data storage device connected to the computer, the method comprising:

creating an index extension having one or more search methods; and

locating data selected by one or more user-defined functions based on a model that supports user-defined search, wherein each user-defined function references the index extension and wherein the data is located using one or more search methods of the index extension.

14. The article of manufacture of claim 13, wherein the index extension comprises a user-defined index type based on the model.

15. The article of manufacture of claim 14, further comprising the step of creating an index to data in the database based on the user-defined index type in response to user input.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving one or more index extensions, comprising user-defined index types;

receiving one or more user-defined indexes of the one or more user-defined index types; and

receiving one or more user-defined functions from a user, which reference index exploitation rules from the one or more user-defined indexes.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16, further comprising the step of receiving, from a user, a query that specifies one of the user-defined functions.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising the step of exploiting an index using index exploitation rules defined in the user-defined function specified in the query.