Index processing using transformed values

A system for tracking a plurality of objects being stored in a computer system, comprising a processor configured to:

• retrieve a hint comprising at least one hash value from an index of objects stored in the computer system;
• obtaining a hash value from the hint;
• transforming the hash value to contain instances of the flag;
• wherein transforming the hash value includes identifying instances of a mapped value in the hash value;
• wherein transforming the hash value includes replacing an instance of the mapped value with an instance of the flag;
• wherein transforming the hash value includes encoding the hash value into another base;
• wherein encoding the hash value into another base includes encoding the hash value into another higher base;
• wherein encoding the hash value into another base includes reducing space for storing the encoded hash value;
• wherein reducing space for storing the encoded hash value includes dropping a portion not used for storing the encoded hash value;
• wherein dropping the portion not used for storing the encoded hash value includes dropping a most significant byte;
• and
• determining from the hash value whether an object has been stored in the computer system;
• and
• utilizing the flag in the index as an indicator to indicate that an endpoint has been reached.

A computer program product for tracking a plurality of objects being stored in a computer system, comprising a computer readable storage medium having machine readable code embodied therein for:

• retrieving a hint comprising at least one hash value from an index of objects stored in the computer system;
• obtaining a hash value from the hint;
• transforming the hash value to contain instances of the flag;
• wherein transforming the hash value includes identifying instances of a mapped value in the hash value;
• wherein transforming the hash value includes replacing an instance of the mapped value with an instance of the flag;
• wherein transforming the hash value includes encoding the hash value into another base;
• wherein encoding the hash value into another base includes encoding the hash value into another higher base;
• wherein encoding the hash value into another base includes reducing space for storing the encoded hash value;
• wherein reducing space for storing the encoded hash value includes dropping a portion not used for storing the encoded hash value;
• wherein dropping the portion not used for storing the encoded hash value includes dropping a most significant byte;
• and
• determining from the hash value whether an object has been stored in the system;
• and
• utilizing the flag in the index as an indicator to indicate that an endpoint has been reached.