Path Encoded Tree Structures for Rapid Relational Set Operations
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing and manipulating hierarchical tree structures in computing applications, such as enterprise databases, face inefficiencies in operations like comparing, joining, and modifying tree structures, which can impact performance and revenue in large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of compact path encoding using bit-wise metadata that describes familial relationships between nodes, allowing for efficient tree operations by reducing the number of leaf nodes required to represent a tree structure and enabling rapid computing operations through binary path terminators.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional tree structure representation methods are used, then the tree structure can be represented accurately, but the computational efficiency and resource consumption are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tree structure into discrete path components represented by binary strings. Each path from root to node is encoded as a sequence of binary digits, allowing the tree to be decomposed into manageable path segments that can be processed independently through set operations, thereby improving computational efficiency while maintaining structural accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the representation parameters of tree structures from traditional node-based hierarchical storage to path-based binary encoding. By changing the fundamental parameter of representation from physical node storage to binary path strings, the system achieves more efficient computational operations while preserving the complete tree structure information.
2Reliability
If more leaf nodes are used to represent tree structure, then the tree structure representation is more complete, but the computational resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a compact binary copy representation of the tree structure where path information is encoded as binary strings rather than storing complete node hierarchies. This copying approach maintains full structural information for accurate representation while consuming fewer computational resources through efficient binary encoding and set-based operations.
3Speed
If traditional methods are used for tree operations like comparing and joining, then the operations can be performed, but the speed and performance are slow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical tree traversal and comparison mechanisms with binary set operations. By substituting the mechanical process of node-by-node traversal with algebraic set operations on binary path strings, the system achieves significantly faster operation speeds while simplifying the computational complexity through mathematical set theory.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments facilitate creation of efficient tree structures (and strategic modification of and manipulation of existing tree structures), such that the resulting tree structures enable rapid computing operations, including, but not limited to, rapid relational set operations (e.g., joining trees, comparing tree structures, determining structural similarities of trees, adding tree nodes, removing or replacing tree nodes, accessing tree data, updating tree data, and so on). An example method relates to a method and/or system for creating and manipulating tree data structures (also simply called trees herein) as, for example, in relational databases. One embodiment uses compact bit-wise path encoding that stores structural data related to tree branches to which a current node belongs. The embodiment facilitates manipulating a representation of a tree and includes traversing at least a portion of the tree from a starting node, and then for each traversed node, modifying node metadata depending on whether or not the traversed node is a sibling node or a child node.