Method for searching a data page for inserting a data record

A data processing system for searching a data page in a table space of a database for inserting a data record to a first table, said table space comprising space map pages and sets of data pages, each space map page comprising information about the available storage space of one set of data pages, each space map page and the corresponding set of data pages being further assigned to a table range, said database further comprising a clustering index for said table and a database management system, said database management system comprising a space storage information database, said space information storage database holding space usage information for each table range, said data processing system comprising:

• a) means for receiving said data record;
• b) means for searching a first data page of the sets of data pages for insertion of said data record by use of said clustering index;
• c) means for storing said data record in said first data page and means for updating said space usage information for the first table range to which said first data page is assigned to;
• d) means for determining if said first table range provides sufficient storage space by use of said space usage information for said first table range;
• e) means for searching the space map pages being assigned to said first table range for a second data page, means for storing said data record in said second data page, and means for updating said space usage information of said first table range;
• f) means for identifying a second table range by use of the space usage information, means for searching the space map pages of the sets of data pages being grouped into said second table range for a third data page, means for storing said data record in said third data page, and means for updating said space usage information of said second table range;
• g) means for allocating a fourth data page and means for storing said data record in said fourth data page.

A data processing system, comprising:

• a) a database stored in a table space, the table space comprising a space map page and a set of data pages, wherein the space map page comprise information about the available storage space in the set of data pages and wherein the space map page and the corresponding set of data pages are assigned to a table range;
• b) a database management system adapted to:
• 1) identify a first data page for insertion of a data record and, if said first data page provides sufficient storage space, store the data record in the first data page and update said space usage information for a first table range to which the first data page is assigned;
• 2) if said first data page does not provide sufficient storage space, determine whether the first table range provides sufficient storage space by use of the space usage information of said first table range;
• and
• (i) if the first table range provides sufficient storage space:
• search the space map pages being assigned to the first table range for a second data page, store the data record in the second data page, and update the space usage information of the first table range;
• (ii) if said first table range does not provide sufficient storage space:
• identify a second table range by use of the space usage information, search the space map pages of the sets of data pages being grouped into the second table range for a third data page, store the data record in the third data page, and update the space usage information for the second table range.