International Business Machines Corporation

Christopher John Crone

Margaret Ann Bernal

Julie Ann Watts

Andrei Fedorovich Lurie

Kalpana Shyam

Yao-Ching Stephen Chen

Hubertus Franke

Ronald Morton Smith, Sr

Hong Min

Terence Patrick Purcell

Thomas Abel Beavin

Guogen Zhang

James Zu-Chia Teng

Fen-Ling Lin

James Willis Pickel

Michael F Cowlishaw

Yefim Shuf

Paramesh Sampatrai Desai

Claire Willey McFeely

Qinghua Zou

Allan Benjamin Lebovitz

Karelle Lynne Cornwell

Jeffrey Ralph Ruggles

San Yu Phoenix

Peter Hoa

Yumi Kimura Tsuji

Eric N Katayama

Jason Alexander Cu

Akiko Hoshikawa

Georgia Carroll Fuller

Daya Vivek

Patrick Michael Malone

Fung Lee

Hsuiying Yen Cheng

William Y Kyu

Jennifer Wha-Yuh Ou

Provided are techniques for progressive optimization for implicit CAST predicates. In response to receiving a query with an original predicate comparing a character value of a character data type to a literal value of a numeric data type, a number of iterations is set to a length of the character data type. For each of the number of iterations, prefix predicates are generated based on that iteration and processed to identify a qualified index key in an index. Once the iterations are completed, the character value and the literal value are normalized. The original predicate with the normalized character value and the normalized literal value is applied starting at the qualified index key identified in a last iteration to generate a result set for the query. The result set is returned.

Progressive optimization for implicit cast predicates

A sequence of one or more input objects are sorted by identifying a property that is exhibited by a sequence of one or more input objects, determining whether each input object from the sequence of one or more input objects exhibits the property, storing each of the one or more input objects into a buffer, wherein an input object is stored in a first buffer if it exhibits the property and an input object is stored in a second buffer if it does not exhibit the property, sorting each of the one or more input objects in each buffer, and merging the one or more input objects in each buffer into a sequence of one or more input objects.

Method for sorting data

A method and system for utilizing a column function for a relational database in a structure query language (SQL) environment is disclosed. The column function is capable of performing an operation on an indeterminate number of entries. The relational database utilizes data including a plurality of entries capable of being organized into at least one column and at least one row. The method and system include allowing a user to specify the at least one row as an argument for a generalized scalar function and simulating a column environment for the at least one row using the generalized scalar function to allow the at least one row to be provided to the column function as though the at least one row was a column. The method and system also include performing the column function on the at least one row to provide at least one output.

Method and system for utilizing a generic scalar function to allow a column function to operate on row data

A method for generating an execution plan for updating and retrieving data from a database in a single process includes: receiving a statement by a server to update a database with a first set of data and to retrieve a second set of data from the database; building a first execution plan to update the database with the first set of data; building a second execution plan to retrieve the second set of data from the database; and building a single execution plan including a combination of the first and second execution plans. The single execution plan allows for the updating and retrieval of data with a single crossing of an interface between a client and the database. By performing both functions in this manner, the efficiency of performing such tasks on the database is significantly increased.

Method of returning data during insert statement processing

A method for conversion between a decimal floating-point number and an order-preserving format has been disclosed. The method encodes numbers in the decimal floating-point format into a format which preserves value ordering. This encoding allows for fast and direct string comparison of two values. Such an encoding provides normalized representations for decimal floating-point numbers and supports type-insensitive comparisons. Type-insensitive comparisons are often used in database management systems, where the data type is not specified for values to compare. In addition, the original decimal floating-point format can be recovered from the order-preserving format.

Order-preserving encoding formats of floating-point decimal numbers for efficient value comparison

Disclosed is a technique for input parameter binding. When executing a statement, data in an application structure of the statement is compared with optimization information in a bind-in structure. When there is a match between the data in the application structure and data in the optimization information in the bind-in structure, the statement is executed with the optimization information. Also disclosed is a technique for output parameter binding. When executing a statement, data in an application structure of the statement is compared with optimization information in a bind-out structure. When there is a match between the data in the application structure and data in the optimization information in the bind-out structure, the statement is executed with the optimization information.

Method for optimized parameter binding

Provided are a method, system, and program for making data available to an application program. A cursor is generated positioned with respect to a result table, wherein the cursor specifies a search criteria, and wherein the result table includes rows from a base table that satisfy the search criteria. A fetch request is received indicating to position the cursor on a plurality of rows of the result table. The cursor is positioned on the plurality of rows of the result table indicated in the fetch request that satisfy the search criteria.

Method, system, and program for positioning a cursor on rows of a result table

Provided is a method, system, program, and data structures for making data available to an application program. A result table is generated including rows corresponding to a subset of rows in a base table having data in one or more columns that satisfy a query predicate clause. The result table includes, for each row, a location identifier of the corresponding row in the base table and a column for each column in a query select list. The result table is accessed to return requested data from the base table to the application program.

Method, system, and program for processing modifications to data in tables in a database system

A method, apparatus and article of manufacture for computer implemented method of efficiently executing built-in functions is defined. Function modules are defined to process a single data type class and to process as many functions as possible before returning to the caller. Functions related to a query are each assigned a key, a type of code, to indicate the data type class to which the function belongs. The functions are then ordered so that a particular module scope can be held as long as possible. Further, data fields, another type of code containing optimization information, can be added to the functions to further enable the holding of module scope. Finally, the functions are executed at runtime. During execution, the database system looks ahead at upcoming functions in an attempt anticipate the next course of action by examining the keys and data fields. Various additional optimization techniques can then be used to enhance runtime performance.

Method and apparatus for efficiently executing built-in functions

Growing community of inventors

San Jose, CA, United States of America

Christopher John Crone