Encoded-vector indices for decision support and warehousing

A program storage medium readable by a computer having a memory, the medium tangibly embodying one or more programs of instructions executable by the computer to perform method steps for optimizing an SQL query, the SQL query being performed by the computer to retrieve data from a relational database stored in an data storage device coupled to the computer, the relational database comprising one or more tables of data, each of the tables comprising one or more intersecting rows and columns of data the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) storing a vectorized index in the memory of the computer for values in one or more of the columns of a particular table in the relational database, wherein the vectorized index comprises a plurality of positions, and each of the positions comprises a linear array that represents a value for the specified columns in a corresponding row of the particular table in the relational database;
• and
• (b) performing the query in the memory of the computer using the stored vectorized index.

A memory for storing data for access by an SQL query executed by a computer, the SQL query being performed by the computer to retrieve data from a relational database stored in the computer, the relational database comprising one or more tables of data, each of the tables comprising one or more intersecting rows and columns of data, the memory comprising:

• a vectorized index representative of values in one or more of the columns of a particular table in the relational database, wherein the vectorized index comprises a plurality of positions, and each of the positions comprises a linear array that represents a value for the specified columns in a corresponding row of the particular table in the relational database.