Secondary Enumeration for Database Query Optimization

Solution Overview

Problem

Database queries involving large data types consume excessive memory and processing resources due to the propagation of data through temporary data structures, leading to inefficiencies in query performance.

Innovation Solution

The method involves representing table columns using enumeration values and a lookup-table to translate these values into data values, creating a secondary enumeration that is semantically equivalent to the data, and mapping the enumeration values to this secondary enumeration, allowing for delayed value projection and temporary enumeration to optimize memory usage and processing requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If data of large data type is propagated through temporary data structures, then complete data accuracy is maintained, but memory consumption increases and processing resources are consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidmemory consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the original data column with a different data type (secondary enumeration) that is semantically equivalent but uses less memory. This copy is used for temporary data structures during query processing, while the original data remains intact in the database. The secondary enumeration values map to the original data values through a lookup table, ensuring data accuracy is maintained while reducing memory footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Measurement precision

If data of large data type is propagated through temporary data structures, then complete data accuracy is maintained, but processing resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidprocessing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a copy of the original data column with a different data type (secondary enumeration) that is semantically equivalent but uses less memory. This copy is used for temporary data structures during query processing, while the original data remains intact in the database. The secondary enumeration values map to the original data values through a lookup table, ensuring data accuracy is maintained while reducing memory footprint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the data type parameter from a large data type to a smaller enumeration type for use in temporary data structures. This parameter change reduces the amount of data that must be processed in memory, thereby reducing CPU cycles and processing resource consumption while maintaining semantic equivalence through the mapping relationship.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If enumeration values are used to represent column data, then memory consumption is reduced, but semantic equivalence to original data may be lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvememory consumptionVSAvoidsemantic equivalence

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a lookup table as an intermediary between the enumeration values and the original data values. This lookup table maintains the mapping relationship, ensuring that semantic equivalence is preserved. When data needs to be accessed or processed, the enumeration values are translated through this intermediary back to the original data values, preventing any loss of semantic meaning while still benefiting from reduced memory consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8321429B2Accelerating queries using secondary semantic column enumeration

Publication Date: 2012.11.27 SYBASE INC

AI summary

A system, method, and computer program product for processing a database query are presented. Steps for creating a secondary enumeration when necessary and utilizing the secondary enumeration to improve query operations by processing enumeration values of the secondary enumeration instead of data represented by the enumeration values are disclosed.