Data access system

• US 7,099,898 B1
• Filed: 08/11/2000
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Lee Evan, Tate, Stewart Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Leslie
• Assistant Examiner(s): DODDS, HAROLD E
• Application Number:
  US09/637,381
• Time in Patent Office: 2,209 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-205, 707/500, 707/513, 709/200, 709/201, 711/100, 711/104, 711/154, 711/163, 711/164, 711/170, 711/101, 717/100, 717/106, 717/108, 717/114, 717/116, 717/165, 715/500, 715/513
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/954 Relational
• 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 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99954 Version management

Abstract

An efficient technique for storing, updating, locating, and retrieving data is provided. In particular, data may be stored in a persistent, user-defined, shareable in-memory database table. Once this in-memory database table is created and loaded with data, data may be located in the table. When a search request specifying a number of results to be retrieved from a desired starting point is received, the data is located in an in-memory database table. Then, the specified number of results from a desired starting point are returned. Furthermore, data that is accessed via an in-memory database table is updated upon receiving an update request. The data that is updated may either be data in a data area of the in-memory database table or may be relational data. When data is updated, a high speed index used to access the in-memory database table is also updated.

Claims

1. A method of storing data in a memory of a computer, comprising:

creating a persistent in-memory database table; and

loading data into the in-memory database table.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is loaded from a relational data store.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the in-memory database table is user-defined.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising enabling multiple users to share access to the in-memory database table.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising dropping the in-memory database table upon receipt of a drop table command.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising dropping the in-memory database table upon system shutdown.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a syntax for creating the in-memory database table.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising limiting access to the in-memory database table.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the persistent in-memory database table remains in memory until a user specifies removal of said persistent in-memory database table.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the data remains in the persistent in-memory database table after it is accessed by a first user and is available for access by a second user.

9. An apparatus for storing data, comprising:

a computer having a memory and connected to a data store;

one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for creating a persistent in-memory database table and loading data into the in-memory database table.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data is loaded from a relational data store.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the in-memory database table is user-defined.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising enabling multiple users to share access to the in-memory database table.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising dropping the in-memory database table upon receipt of a drop table command.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising dropping the in-memory database table upon system shutdown.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising providing a syntax for creating the in-memory database table.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising limiting access to the in-memory database table.

27. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the persistent in-memory database table remains in memory until a user specifies removal of said persistent in-memory database table.

28. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the data remains in the persistent in-memory database table after it is accessed by a first user and is available for access by a second user.

17. An article of manufacture comprising a program storage medium readable by a computer and embodying one or more instructions executable by the computer to store data in a memory of a computer, comprising:

creating a persistent in-memory database table; and

loading data into the in-memory database table.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the data is loaded from a relational data store.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the in-memory database table is user-defined.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising enabling multiple users to share access to the in-memory database table.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising dropping the in-memory database table upon receipt of a drop table command.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising dropping the in-memory database table upon system shutdown.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising providing a syntax for creating the in-memory database table.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 17, further comprising limiting access to the in-memory database table.

29. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the persistent in-memory database table remains in memory until a user specifies removal of said persistent in-memory database table.

30. The article of manufacture of claim 17, wherein the data remains in the persistent in-memory database table after it is accessed by a first user and is available for access by a second user.