Vector reads for array updates

One or more storage media in which are stored instructions to perform a computer-implemented method, the instructions comprising:

• instructions to generate an array update operation based on a query to update a relational database;
• wherein said array update operation specifies a plurality of row-identifier and value pairs to update multiple rows in a table of said relational database;
• instructions to repeatedly find and store in a structure, a block-identifier of a block that contains a row identified by a row-identifier in at least a group of row-identifier and value pairs in said plurality, by use of a database index of said relational database;
• instructions to invoke performance of a single operation without context switching during said performance, to retrieve from a storage device and to store in a cache, a plurality of blocks, said blocks being identified by block-identifiers in the structure;
• instructions to repeatedly update in blocks in the cache, each row identified in the group of row-identifier and value pairs, using a corresponding value in the row-identifier and value pairs;
• wherein several of said blocks are non-contiguous in said storage device;
• and
• instructions to sort the block-identifiers, prior to retrieval of the blocks by performing the single operation.

A computer comprising a processor and one or more storage media coupled to the processor, the one or more storage media comprising:

• instructions to automatically generate an array update operation based on a query to update a relational database;
• instructions to automatically use a database index to look up a block-identifier of a block that contains a row identified by an identifier in a plurality of identifier and value pairs to be used to perform said array update operation on a table in said relational database;
• instructions to automatically store the block-identifier in a structure in memory;
• instructions to automatically repeat said instructions to automatically use and said instructions to automatically store, for all identifiers in at least a group of identifier and value pairs in said plurality;
• instructions to automatically perform a vector read operation, to retrieve from a disk and store in a cache, each block in a group of blocks identified by block-identifiers stored in said structure, wherein the group of blocks are all stored in the cache during execution of a single function call;
• wherein several of said blocks in the group are non-contiguous in said disk;
• instructions to automatically modify a row in a block stored in the cache, using a value in the plurality of identifier and value pairs;
• instructions to automatically repeat said instructions to automatically modify, with each row identified in the group of identifier and value pairs;
• and
• instructions to sort said block-identifiers prior to retrieval of the blocks from the storage device by performing the vector read operation.

An apparatus comprising a database, the apparatus comprising:

• means for generating an array update operation based on a query to update the database;
• wherein said array update operation specifies a plurality of row-identifier and value pairs to update multiple rows in a table of the database;
• means for using a database index to look up a block-identifier of a block that contains the row identified by an identifier in the plurality of identifier and value pairs;
• means for storing the block-identifier in a structure in memory;
• means for repeating (using the database index to look up and storing the block-identifier), for all identifiers in at least a group of identifier and value pairs;
• means for invoking performance of a vector read operation without context switching, to retrieve from a disk and store in a cache, each block in a group of blocks identified by block-identifiers stored in said structure, wherein the group of blocks are all stored in the cache during execution of a single function call;
• wherein several of said blocks in the group are non-contiguous in said disk;
• means for modifying a row in a block stored in the cache, using a value in the plurality of identifier and value pairs;
• and
• means for repeating said modifying with each row identified in the group of identifier and value pairs;
• wherein said block-identifiers are sorted prior to retrieval of the blocks from the storage device by performing the vector read operation.

One or more storage media comprising instructions to perform a method implemented in a computer, the one or more storage media comprising:

• instructions to generate an array update operation based on a query to update a database;
• wherein said array update operation specifies a plurality of row-identifier and value pairs to update multiple rows in a table of said database;
• instructions to find a block-identifier of a block that contains the row identified by a row-identifier in a row-identifier and value pair in said plurality, by use of a database index in said database;
• instructions to store the block-identifier in a structure in memory;
• instructions to repeatedly (find the block-identifier and store the block-identifier), for all row-identifiers in at least a group of row-identifier and value pairs in said plurality;
• instructions to invoke performance of a vector read operation without context switching during said performance, to retrieve from a storage device and store in a cache, each block in a group of blocks identified by block-identifiers stored in said structure, wherein the group of blocks are all stored in the cache during execution of a single function call;
• wherein several of said blocks in the group are non-contiguous in said storage device;
• instructions to update the row in the block in the cache, using the value in the row-identifier and value pair;
• instructions to repeatedly execute said instructions to update, with each row identified in the group of row-identifier and value pairs;
• and
• instructions to sort said block-identifiers prior to retrieval of the blocks from the storage device by performing the vector read operation.