Virtual database tables with updatable logical table pointers

A method, implemented in a computing system comprising at least one hardware processor and at least one memory coupled to the at least one hardware processor, the method comprising:

• creating a first schema for a first virtual table in a data dictionary, the first schema comprising a first logical pointer specifying a location for data associated with at least portion of the first virtual table, the first logical pointer having a first value specifying a first location of at least a first portion of the first virtual table, the at least a first portion of the first virtual table comprising first data and defined according to the first schema, wherein a single value assigned to the first logical pointer solely determines a location from which data for the at least a first portion of the first virtual table is to be retrieved, the first location located in in-memory storage of a central computing system hosting a database management system, the database management system comprising dynamic storage, the first location not being in the dynamic storage, wherein the dynamic storage comprises an in-memory buffer cache and persistent storage and data stored in the dynamic storage can be transferred between the in-memory buffer cache and the persistent storage;
• receiving a first query, the first query requesting at least a portion of data stored in the second table;
• following the first logical pointer to the first location;
• retrieving at least a first portion of data stored in the at least a first portion of the first virtual table;
• receiving a request to update the first logical pointer to a second value, the second value specifying at least a second portion of a second table at a second location, the second table defined according to the first schema and the second location being in the dynamic storage;
• assigning the second value to the first logical pointer variable in place of the first value;
• receiving a second query, the second query requesting at least a portion of data stored in the second table;
• following the first logical pointer to the second location;
• and
• retrieving at least a second portion of data stored in the at least a first portion of the first virtual table, where the at least a second portion of data is the same as the at least a first portion of data or is different than the at least a first portion of data.

One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media comprising:

• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computing system comprising at least one hardware processor and at least one memory coupled to the at least one hardware processor, cause the computing system to create a first schema for a first virtual table in a data dictionary, the first schema comprising a first logical pointer specifying a location for data associated with at least portion of the first virtual table, the first logical pointer having a first value specifying a first location of at least a first portion of the first virtual table, the at least a first portion of the first virtual table comprising first data and defined according to the first schema, wherein a single value assigned to the first logical pointer solely determines a location from which data for the at least a first portion of the first virtual table is to be retrieved, the first location located in in-memory storage of a central computing system hosting a database management system, the database management system comprising dynamic storage, the first location not being in the dynamic storage, wherein the dynamic storage comprises an in-memory buffer cache and persistent storage and data stored in the dynamic storage can be transferred between the in-memory buffer cache and the persistent storage;
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to receive a first query, the first query requesting at least a portion of data stored in the second table;
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to follow the first logical pointer to the first location;
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to retrieve at least a first portion of data stored in the at least a first portion of the first virtual table;
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to receive a request to update the first logical pointer to a second value, the second value specifying at least a second portion of a second table at a second location, the second table defined according to the first schema and the second location being in the dynamic storage;
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to assign the second value to the first logical pointer variable in place of the first value;
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to receive a second query, the second query requesting at least a portion of data stored in the second table;
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to follow the first logical pointer to the second location;
• and
• computer-executable instructions that, when executed by the computing system, cause the computing system to retrieve at least a second portion of data stored in the at least a first portion of the first virtual table, where the at least a second portion of data is the same as the at least a first portion of data or is different than the at least a first portion of data.