Method, system, and program for accessing rows in one or more tables satisfying a search criteria

A system for accessing rows of data from a base table satisfying a search criteria, comprising:

• means for receiving an initial request to access rows in the base table including the search criteria specifying predicates for one or more columns in the base table;
• means for generating a data structure to include information on qualifying base table rows that satisfy the search criteria from the base table;
• means for providing notification that the qualifying base table rows are accessible before information on all the qualifying base table rows is included in the data structure;
• and
• means for receiving a second request for one qualifying base table row after the notification is provided;
• means for determining whether the data structure includes information on the requested qualifying base table row in the base table;
• and
• means for using the information in the data structure to access the requested qualifying base table row from the base table, wherein the requested qualifying row is returned from the base table to the second request.

A program for accessing rows of data from a base table satisfying a search criteria, wherein the program is comprised of code implemented in a computer readable medium that is capable of causing a processor to perform:

• receiving an initial request to access rows in the base table including the search criteria specifying predicates for one or more columns in the base table;
• generating a data structure to include information on qualifying base table rows that satisfy the search criteria in response to the initial request;
• providing notification that the qualifying base table rows are accessible before information on all the qualifying base table rows is included in the data structure;
• and
• receiving a second request for one qualifying base table row after the notification is provided;
• determining whether the data structure includes information on the requested qualifying base table row in the base table;
• and
• using the information in the data structure to access the requested qualifying base table row from the base table, wherein the requested qualifying row is returned from the base table to the second request.