Data access system

• US 7,107,260 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Issued: 09/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nakamura, Lee Evan, Tate, Stewart Eugene
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): DODDS, HAROLD E
• Application Number:
  US10/145,543
• Publication Number:
  US 20030074375A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,581 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 5, 707 7- 10, 707100-1041, 707200-205, 707/500, 707/513, 709/200, 709/201, 711/100, 711/101, 711/154, 711/163, 711/164, 717/100, 717/106, 717/108, 717/114, 717/116, 717/160, 705/500, 705/513, 715/100, 715/106, 715/108, 715/114, 715/116, 715/500, 715/513
• US Class Current: 707/741
• 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

Data is stored in a persistent, user-defined, shareable in-memory database table. In response to a search request that specifies a number of results to be retrieved from a desired starting point, the data is located in the in-memory database table and the specified number of results from the desired starting point are returned. The data is retrieved from the in-memory database table by retrieving stored descriptors corresponding to search terms in the search request. The stored descriptors are mapped to location information in a header area of the in-memory database table. Using the location information data is retrieved either from a data area of the in-memory database table or from a relational data store.

Claims

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

receiving a search request specifying a number of results to be retrieved from a desired starting point;

locating the data in an in-memory database table; and

returning the specified number of results from a desired starting point.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising parsing the search request to identify search terms.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising locating stored descriptors that correspond to the search terms using a high speed index.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising mapping the stored descriptors to location information in a header area of the in-memory database table.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising using the location information to retrieve data.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the data is retrieved from a data area of the in-memory database table.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the data is retrieved from a relational data store.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the results are in pre-sorted order.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the results are pre-joined.

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

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

10. An apparatus for locating data, comprising:

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

one or more computer programs, performed by the computer, for receiving a search request specifying a number of results to be retrieved from a desired starting point, locating the data in an in-memory database table, and returning the specified number of results from the desired starting point.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising parsing the search request to identify search terms.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising locating stored descriptors that correspond to the search terms using a high speed index.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising mapping the stored descriptors to location information in a header area of the in-memory database table.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising using the location information to retrieve data.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the data is retrieved from a data area of the in-memory database table.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the data is retrieved from a relational data store.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the results are in pre-sorted order.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the results are pre-joined.

30. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the in-memory database table is a persistent in-memory database table that remains in memory until a user specifies removal of said in-memory database table.

31. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the in-memory database table is a persistent in-memory database table in which the data remains after it is accessed by a first user and is available for access by a second user.

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

receiving a search request specifying a number of results to be retrieved from a desired starting point;

locating the data in an in-memory database table; and

returning the specified number of results from a desired starting point.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, further comprising parsing the search request to identify search terms.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 20, further comprising locating stored descriptors that correspond to the search terms using a high speed index.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 21, further comprising mapping the stored descriptors to location information in a header area of the in-memory database table.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 22, further comprising using the location information to retrieve data.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the data is retrieved from a data area of the in-memory database table.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 23, wherein the data is retrieved from a relational data store.

26. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the results are in pre-sorted order.

27. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the results are pre-joined.

32. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the in-memory database table is a persistent in-memory database table that remains in memory until a user specifies removal of said in-memory database table.

33. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the in-memory database table is a persistent in-memory database table in which the data remains after it is accessed by a first user and is available for access by a second user.