Method and apparatus for masking index values in a database
AssigneeOracle International Corporation
InventorDaniel ManHung Wong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for masking index values in a database. During operation, the system receives a request to mask a column in a database, wherein the column is an index-column. Next, the system retrieves a tree which is used to index the column, wherein the tree provides a sorted representation of values in the column. The system then locates the root-node of the tree. Then, for each child-node in the tree, the system determines if the child-node is a leaf-node. If so, the system masks a node-value for the leaf-node without resorting the tree. If not, the system leaves the node-value unmasked.
Claims20
A method for masking index values in a database, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to mask a column in a database, wherein the column is an index-column;
- retrieving a tree which is used to index the column, wherein the tree provides a sorted representation of values in the column;
- locating the root-node of the tree;
- for each child-node in the tree, determining if the child-node is a leaf-node;
- if so, masking a node-value associated with the leaf-node without resorting the tree;
- and
- if not, leaving the node-value unmasked.
A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for masking index values in a database, the method comprising:
- receiving a request to mask a column in a database, wherein the column is an index-column;
- retrieving a tree which is used to index the column, wherein the tree provides a sorted representation of values in the column;
- locating the root-node of the tree;
- for each child-node in the tree, determining if the child-node is a leaf-node;
- if so, masking a node-value associated with the leaf-node without resorting the tree;
- and
- if not, leaving the node-value unmasked.
An apparatus that masks index values in a database, comprising:
- a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request to mask a column in a database, wherein the column is an index-column;
- a retrieval mechanism configured to retrieve a tree which is used to index the column, wherein the tree provides a sorted representation of the column;
- a locating mechanism configured to locate the root-node of the tree;
- a determining mechanism configured to determine if the child-node is a leaf-node;
- and
- a masking mechanism configured to mask a node-value for the leaf-node without resorting the tree.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.