Method and system for query processing by combining indexes of multilevel granularity or composition

Abstract

A method to process a query for information stored in a relational database using indexes which have different granularity and/or composition is provided. The method involves selecting indexes of various granularity and/or composition based on the query, ordering and combining them (if necessary) in order to subset the data from a relational table to be optimally scanned. The ability to combine indexes is very useful to answer ad hoc queries for which no specific index exists. This requirement may be met by using index ANDing and index ORing techniques.

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