Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-22
2001-01-09
Black, Thomas G. (Department: 2771)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173281
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the data processing field, and more particularly, relates to a method and computer program product for processing and combining data sets including bitmaps in a computer system.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
A common data source, such as a database file can be very large and processing and combining data sets from the data source can be expensive in terms of computer resources. It is important that methods for processing and combining data sets be efficient. Various methods are provided to indicate how a data set or record subset is to be derived, such as, an existing user provided bitmap, where each ON bit indicates a record that should be returned. A second method could be referencing a previously related object, such as a keyed or encoded vector index, along with methods to indicate how to derive the elements of the data set. A third method could use a start and end value that may be provided at create time, where all entries between the two values are to be included in a record subset. Similarly a method may be provided to identify at a later date a start and end value. A list may be provided of specific record numbers of interest in a database file. When accessing records in a database, a data object, for example, a cursor on the DB2/400 database implemented in the International Business Machines Corp. AS/400 computer system, is often used to keep track of the position in that database. On the DB2/400 database, the selection cursor can be built with imbedded complexity, such that the cursor automatically skips records which do not fit a selection criteria. This complexity is built in when the cursor is created.
Multiple methods for building selection and implementing selection exist. After subsets of data records are selected using diverse indexes or other methods, these subsets may need to be combined with boolean operators, such as logically ANDed or ORed together, to produce a desired final result data set. In the process of producing the desired final result data set, the derivation of record subsets should be kept to a minimum. A need exists for an efficient and effective computer implemented method for processing and combining data sets from a common data source, such as bitmaps from a database file.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and computer program product for processing and combining data sets including bitmaps in a computer system. Other important objects of the present invention are to provide such method and computer program product for processing and combining data sets substantially without negative effects and that overcome some disadvantages of prior art arrangements.
In brief, a method and computer program product are provided for processing and combining data sets including bitmaps in a computer system. A plurality of initial data subsets to be combined are processed and data structure statistics containing predefined data attributes are built for each of the plurality of initial subsets. Checking for a dynamic selection attribute for each of the plurality of initial subsets is performed. Responsive to the dynamic selection attribute not being identified, the intermediate storage requirements for producing the combined final data set is selectively optimized. Responsive to identifying the dynamic selection attribute, both intermediate result regeneration and intermediate storage requirements for producing a combined final data set are selectively optimized.
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Bestgen Robert Joseph
Giordano Thomas Paul
Knapp Barry Warren
Welsh David Rolland
Black Thomas G.
Do Thuy
International Business Machines - Corporation
Pennington Joan
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