Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-30
2004-04-13
Coby, Frantz (Department: 2171)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000, C707S793000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06721751
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1 . Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data processing method and data processing apparatus for processing large amounts of data using a computer or other information processing apparatus, and particularly to a method and apparatus for concatenating a plurality of tables of table-format data in a relational database, and for searching for, tabulating and sorting field values of the desired records or the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Databases are used for various apps, but the use of a relational database (RDB) which is able to eliminate logical contradictions has become the mainstream in medium- to large-scale systems. For example, an RDB may be used in an airline seat reservation system or the like. In this case, a key field may be specified to perform a quick search for targets (often a single target), or to confirm, cancel or change reservations. In addition, because the number of seats on each flight numbers several hundred at most, it is possible to find the number of empty seats on a specific airline flight.
However, when one attempts to use this RDB to perform specific calculations (e.g., calculation of the seat vacancy rate) for each fiscal year, each day of the week, each month, each route, each time zone or each type of airplane, this is known to take an extremely large amount of time. To wit, while the RDB is superior at performing processing without contradictions, on the other hand, it has poor performance in searching, tabulating or sorting on a considerable number of records.
For this reason, in recent years it has become typical to construct in the system a type of database called a data warehouse (DWH) in addition to the RDB, for the purpose of searching and tabulating. To wit, an extremely large-scale database equipped with specific data formats and data field names to match the specific purpose of the end user is constructed, and then the end user can use this to perform specific types of searches and tabulation.
However, providing a DWH in addition to the RDB, or namely providing a plurality of databases becomes estranged from the ideal form of the database used for centralized control of data, and particularly the ideal form of the RDB concept. This may give rise to the following various problems, for example.
(1) The DWH is fixed in format, so searching and tabulation on fields other than those provided in advance in the DWH are difficult.
(2) By providing a fixed-format DWH in addition to the RDB, the data size becomes extremely large, so it cannot handle RDB updates and the like.
The present invention has as its object to be able to perform quickly the joining of a plurality of tables of table-format data as desired, and also provide a structure for table-format data with a small data size, a concatenation method therefore, and a method for performing the extremely rapid display of concatenated table-format data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is achieved by providing a method of concatenating a plurality of tables of table-format data where each table is represented by an array of records containing a field and the field values contained therein, wherein said method is characterized in comprising the steps of: constructing each table of table-format data in a manner such that each table is divided into one or more information blocks consisting of: a value list in which the field values are stored in the order of a field value number corresponding to the field value belonging to a specified field, and a pointer array in which pointer values for pointing to said field value numbers are stored in a unique record order, finding equivalent fields among a plurality of tables of table-format data, identifying the information blocks for said equivalent fields, in each of said plurality of tables of table-format data, comparing the value lists contained in said identified information blocks, and setting both value lists to the same values, at the time of setting said value lists to the same values, adding pointer values to associated pointer arrays in the information block to which that field value is added, and by making the value lists contained in the information blocks for specific fields in said plurality of tables of table-format data equivalent, concatenating the table-format data.
By means of the present invention, value lists containing actual field values and pointer arrays that contain pointer values for specification the field values of said value lists are used to constitute an information block regarding a certain field, so table-format data is represented as a set of information blocks pertaining to various fields. Accordingly, when concatenating (namely, joining) a plurality of tables of table-format data, value lists within the information blocks among table-format data are found and the field values of the value list are set to the same values, and in response the associated pointer arrays are changed. Accordingly, it is possible to add the field values of a value list and add the accompanying pointer values (namely, share the value lists) without requiring any complicated processing, and thus two tables of table-format data can be concatenated.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, regarding information blocks containing value lists that have been made equivalent, only a single value list is actually saved. Namely, regarding the shared value lists, it is sufficient to save only one. Thereby, it is possible to reduce the memory size required. In addition, there is no massive processing required for joining, so the concatenation (joining) of table-format data can be implemented at very high speed.
The object of the present invention can also be achieved by a method of presenting concatenated table-format data characterized in comprising the steps of: preparing a plurality of tables of table-format data in which the value lists contained in information blocks for specific fields were made equivalent by means of the aforementioned concatenation method, regarding said plurality of tables of table-format data, among said information blocks for specific fields, identifying information blocks related to key fields in which the pointer values of the pointer array are not duplicated, and determining the table-format data containing said information blocks to be sub table-format data, in one of the information blocks, generating a second pointer array that identifies the record numbers of said sub table-format data in the order of the field values of the field list, among the information blocks contained in said plurality of tables of table-format data, identifying the information blocks related to the fields to be presented, among said information blocks related to fields to be presented, regarding information blocks that constitute the main table-format data which is the table-format data other than said sub table-format data, looking up pointer values within the pointer array corresponding to a stipulated record number and obtaining a stipulated field value, among said information blocks related to fields to be presented, regarding information blocks that constitute said sub table-format data, looking up record numbers corresponding to a stipulated record number and obtaining a record number regarding the sub table-format data within the corresponding said second pointer array, in the information block constituting said sub table-format data, looking up a pointer value within the pointer array corresponding to the record number regarding said sub table-format data, and obtaining a stipulated field value, and presenting the field value thus obtained.
By means of the present invention, regarding a plurality of tables of table-format data, when a user selects a specific field and requests its presentation, the plurality of tables of table-format data are concatenated and in the sub table-format data, a second pointer array that can identify the record numbers in the sub table-format data from the record numbers of the main table-format data (namely, reverse
Coby Frantz
Griffin & Szipl PC
Turbo Data Laboratories Inc.
LandOfFree
Method of concatenating table-format data, and method of... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of concatenating table-format data, and method of..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of concatenating table-format data, and method of... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3269125