Value range synopsis in column-organized analytical databases

A computer program product for processing a data table, wherein the data table has a plurality of records and a plurality of attributes, the computer program product comprising:

• one or more computer-readable tangible storage medium and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage medium, the program instructions executable by a processor, the program instructions comprising:
• program instructions to provide, in accordance with a column-oriented storage technique, the data table as a plurality of columns corresponding to the plurality of attributes, wherein each column of the plurality of columns is comprised of a plurality of separate data blocks;
• program instructions to determine the plurality of records of the provided data table for which a plurality of attribute values of at least one selected column of the plurality of columns is contained in a plurality of predetermined data blocks;
• program instructions to determine, for each column of at least a part of the plurality of columns within the determined plurality of records, a plurality of attribute value information descriptive of an associated attribute within the column and providing an indication of the one or more data blocks for which the plurality of attribute value information is determined;
• and
• program instructions to store the determined plurality of attribute value information for enabling query processing.

A computer system for processing a data table, wherein the data table has multiple records and a set of attributes, the computer system being configured for:

• providing, in accordance with a column-oriented storage technique, the data table as a plurality of columns corresponding to the plurality of attributes, wherein each column of the plurality of columns is comprised of a plurality of separate data blocks;
• determining the plurality of records of the provided data table for which a plurality of attribute values of at least one selected column of the plurality of columns is contained in a plurality of predetermined data blocks;
• determining, for each column of at least a part of the plurality of columns within the determined plurality of records, a plurality of attribute value information descriptive of an associated attribute within the column and providing an indication of the one or more data blocks for which the plurality of attribute value information is determined;
• and
• storing the determined plurality of attribute value information for enabling query processing.