Techniques for indexing into a row of a database table
AssigneeOracle International Corporation
InventorRaymond Roccaforte
Life of this patent
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Abstract
According to one aspect, an index that is built on a table having a plurality of rows comprises an index entry that contains a key value for a sub-part of a row and that includes data for locating a row and data for locating, within the row, a value associated with the sub-part of the row. In one embodiment, the sub-part of the row is an array, with each member of the array represented in the row.
Claims13
A computer-readable medium storing an index that is built on a table that has a plurality of rows, said index comprising:
- an index entry that contains a key value for a sub-part of a row of said plurality of rows, said index entry including
- first data for locating said row;
- and
- second data for locating, within said row, a value associated with said sub-part of said row.
A method for locating data within a relational table wherein said data is associated with a key value, the method comprising the steps of:
- traversing an index that is built on said relational table to locate a first entry for said key value;
- reading first data from said first entry to identify which row of a plurality of rows of said relational table contains data associated with said key value;
- and
- reading second data from said first entry to locate a first sub-part, within said row that is associated with said key value.
An apparatus for locating data within a relational table wherein said data is associated with a key value, the apparatus comprising:
- means for traversing an index that is built on said relational table to locate a first entry for said key value;
- means for reading first data from said first entry to identify which row of a plurality of rows of said relational table contains data associated with said key value;
- and
- means for reading second data from said first entry to locate a first sub-part, within said row that is associated with said key value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.