Database Row Page Compression Bitmap Dictionary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current data compression techniques in relational database systems, such as row level and page level compression, are inefficient and do not adequately address the growing data storage needs, leading to a need for improved compression methods that do not introduce new overhead.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves identifying fixed-length data candidates in database rows and pages based on predetermined thresholds, using bitmaps for row-level compression and page dictionaries to reduce storage requirements by eliminating redundancy, and applying both row and page boundary compression techniques to achieve optimal data storage efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If row level compression and page level compression are used, then data storage capacity is improved, but compression efficiency remains insufficient and does not adequately address growing data storage needs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage capacityVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the database into multiple partitions, with each partition independently applying compression techniques. This allows different compression strategies to be applied to different data segments based on their characteristics, improving overall compression efficiency while maintaining manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamic compression by identifying fixed-length data candidates based on predetermined thresholds and applying compression adaptively. The system dynamically determines which columns to compress based on data characteristics, rather than applying a static compression scheme to all data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Quantity of substance

If compression techniques are applied to reduce storage requirements, then data storage efficiency is improved, but new overhead is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata storage efficiencyVSAvoidcompression overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary compression metadata (such as length information for variable-length columns) rather than storing complete compression descriptors for each column. This reduces the overhead associated with compression while maintaining the ability to decompress and access data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies compression selectively to only those columns that meet the predetermined threshold criteria for fixed-length data candidates, rather than compressing all columns uniformly. This partial application of compression reduces overall system overhead while achieving sufficient storage efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2443564B1Data compression for reducing storage requirements in a database system
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 SYBASE INC
  • EP2443564B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2443564B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2443564B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system, method, and computer program product for reducing data storage requirements in a database system are described herein. An embodiment includes identifying at least one data candidate of fixed length data type in at least one row of database data for compression based upon a predetermined threshold level and a boundary of compression, providing at least one bit within the at least one row for an identified data candidate according to the boundary of compression, and storing the at least one row as compressed data in the database system. For compression based on a row boundary, the identified data candidates for compression include fixed length columns having lengths that do not fall below the predetermined threshold level in a row of data and the at least one bit comprises a bitmap for a length of the identified data candidates following compression. For compression based on a page boundary, the identified data candidates for compression include redundant byte string data in a page of data, the redundant byte string data including matching data across columns having lengths that do not exceed the predetermined threshold level.