Abstract: A system and method is provided for query processing comprises: creating an index of a database and ordering a set of index candidates from the index into a list based on a set of heuristic rules. A query defining a query path is then reduced into a list of single path expressions. Each index candidate is matched against the list of single path expressions according to the ordering of the index candidates. The matched candidate nodes are also verified to insure that they satisfy the query path.

Abstract: A method and system for Extensible Markup Language (XML) schema validation, includes: loading an XML document into a runtime validation engine, where the runtime validation engine includes an XML schema validation parser; loading an annotated automaton encoding (AAE) for an XML schema definition into the XML schema validation parser; and validating the XML document against the XML schema definition by the XML schema validation parser utilizing the annotated automaton encoding. Each XML schema definition is compiled once into the AAE format, rather than being compiled each time an XML document is validated, and thus significant time is saved. The code for the runtime validation engine is fixed and does not vary depending on the XML schema definition, rather than varying for each XML schema definition, and thus space overhead is minimized. Flexibility in the validation process is provided without compromising performance.

Abstract: An XML schema is compiled into an annotated automaton encoding, which includes a parsing table for structural information and annotation for type information. The representation is extended to include a mapping from schema types to states in a parsing table. To validate a fragment against a schema type, it is necessary simply to determine the state corresponding to the schema type, and start the validation process from that state. When the process returns to the state, fragment validation has reached successful completion. This approach is more efficient than a general tree representation. Only the data representation of the schema information is handled, making it much easier than manipulating validation parser code generated by a parser generator. In addition, only one representation is needed for schema information for both document and fragment validation. This approach also provides a basis for incremental validation after update.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and computer program products for answering a query to be executed on a database comprising a first table and a second table, and in which the second table includes data from the first table. In one implementation, the method includes refreshing the data in the second table with corresponding data in the first table at a first time, receiving a first query on the first table at a second time that is subsequent to the first time, rewriting the first query into a second query on the first table and a third query on the second table, and executing the second query and the third query respectively on the first table and the second table to generate results for the first query.

Abstract: A new sub-document versioning method for record storages of XML documents which uses virtual cutting points to ensure that a search tree is able to support multiple versions of sub-documents and provide efficient mechanisms for XML updating. Record boundaries and virtual cut points divide the two-dimensional space, the horizontal axis representing node identifiers in document order and vertical axis representing version numbers, into rectangles. The bottom corner of the rectangle is used to represent the rectangles and the corresponding information of the corner is added to the search tree index.

Abstract: An XML schema is compiled into an annotated automaton encoding, which includes a parsing table for structural information and annotation for type information. The representation is extended to include a mapping from schema types to states in a parsing table. To validate a fragment against a schema type, it is necessary simply to determine the state corresponding to the schema type, and start the validation process from that state. When the process returns to the state, fragment validation has reached successful completion. This approach is more efficient than a general tree representation. Only the data representation of the schema information is handled, making it much easier than manipulating validation parser code generated by a parser generator. In addition, only one representation is needed for schema information for both document and fragment validation. This approach also provides a basis for incremental validation after update.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating a path query are disclosed. The path query corresponds to a query tree including a plurality of query nodes. At least one query node corresponds to at least one predicate and is at a level. The predicate(s) are evaluated for previous query node(s). The method and system include scanning data nodes of a document and determining if the data nodes match the query nodes. The method and system also include placing data related to the data node in match stacks corresponding to matched query nodes. The data for the query node(s) include attribute(s) corresponding to the predicate(s). The method and system further include propagating a matching of the at least one query node backward to a matching of the at least one previous query node.

Abstract: A method generates hierarchical path index keys for single and multiple indexes with one scan of a document. Each data node of the document is scanned and matches to query nodes are identified. A data node matches a query node if the three conditions hold: if it is not the root step, there is a match for the query node in the previous step of the query; the data node matches the query node of the current step; and the edges of the data and query nodes match. A sub-tree of a data node can be skipped if the data node is not matched and its level is less than the fixed levels of the query. The matched data node is then placed in the match stacks corresponding to the match query nodes. The method uses transitivity properties among matching units to reduce the number of states that need to be tracked and to improve the evaluation of path expressions significantly.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating a path query are disclosed. The path query corresponds to a query tree including a plurality of query nodes. At least one query node corresponds to at least one predicate and is at a level. The predicate(s) are evaluated for previous query node(s). The method and system include scanning data nodes of a document and determining if the data nodes match the query nodes. The method and system also include placing data related to the data node in match stacks corresponding to matched query nodes. The data for the query node(s) include attribute(s) corresponding to the predicate(s). The method and system further include propagating a matching of the at least one query node backward to a matching of the at least one previous query node.

Abstract: Disclosed is method for processing an aggregate function. Rows that contain a reference to intermediate result structures are grouped to form groups. For each group, aggregate element structures are formed from the intermediate result structures and, if the aggregate function specifies ordering, the aggregate element structures are sorted based on a sort key.

Abstract: A method and system for efficiently identifying materialized view candidates for queries filters materialized views using certain criteria, using the materialized view signatures. This filtering rejects some of the unqualified materialized views prior to the performance of the query rewrite matching algorithm, resulting in a group of materialized view candidates. The query rewrite matching algorithm is then performed on the materialized view candidates. By first filtering the materialized views based on their signatures, the number of materialized views on which the query rewrite matching algorithm is performed is significantly reduced, improving performance.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for processing an aggregate function. Rows that contain a reference to intermediate result structures are grouped to form groups. For each group, aggregate element structures are formed from the intermediate result structures and, if the aggregate function specifies ordering, the aggregate element structures are sorted based on a sort key.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for optimizing a query in a computer system, wherein the query is performed by the computer system to retrieve data from a database stored on the computer system. The optimization includes: (a) combining join predicates from a query with local predicates from each branch of one or more UNION ALL views referenced by the query; (b) analyzing the combined predicates; and (c) not generating the join when the analysis step indicates that the combined predicates lead to an empty result.

Abstract: A method for conversion between a decimal floating-point number and an order-preserving format has been disclosed. The method encodes numbers in the decimal floating-point format into a format which preserves value ordering. This encoding allows for fast and direct string comparison of two values. Such an encoding provides normalized representations for decimal floating-point numbers and supports type-insensitive comparisons. Type-insensitive comparisons are often used in database management systems, where the data type is not specified for values to compare. In addition, the original decimal floating-point format can be recovered from the order-preserving format.

Abstract: A new sub-document versioning method for record storages of XML documents which uses virtual cutting points to ensure that a search tree is able to support multiple versions of sub-documents and provide efficient mechanisms for XML updating. Record boundaries and virtual cut points divide the two-dimensional space, the horizontal axis representing node identifiers in document order and vertical axis representing version numbers, into rectangles. The bottom corner of the rectangle is used to represent the rectangles and the corresponding information of the corner is added to the search tree index.

Abstract: A method and system for providing a scalable storage scheme for native hierarchically structured data of relational tables, includes a base table with indicator columns with information pertaining to hierarchically structured data of a document, data tables for storing the hierarchically structured data corresponding to the indicator columns, and node identifier indexes corresponding to the data tables for mapping between the indicator columns and the hierarchically structured data in the data tables. In an embodiment, actual data for each hierarchically structured data (such as XML) column is stored in a separate data table, and each data table has a separate node identifier index. The node identifier index is searched with a key containing the document identifier and a logical node identifier is used, and a record identifier of a record in the data table containing the node assigned the logical node identifier is retrieved.

Abstract: A storage of nodes of hierarchically structured data uses logical node identifiers to reference the nodes stored within and across record data structures. A node identifier index is used to map each logical node identifier to a record identifier for the record that contains the node. When a sub-tree is stored in a separate record, a proxy node is used to represent the sub-tree in the parent record. The mapping in the node identifier index reflects the storage of the sub-tree nodes in the separate record. Since the references between the records are through logical node identifiers, there is no limitation to the moving of records across pages, as long as the indices are updated or rebuilt to maintain synchronization with the resulting data pages. This approach is highly scalable and has a much smaller storage consumption than approaches that use explicit references between nodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method, system, and program for processing a function. A set of nested functions are received. A composite function is generated for the set of nested functions. A tagging template is generated for the set of nested functions that corresponds to the composite function. A result is produced by evaluating the composite function using the tagging template.

Abstract: In one embodiment, at least a portion of an object model having at least one namespace is serialized. An ancestor namespace is searched for based on a current namespace declaration. The ancestor namespace is associated with an ancestor prefix and an ancestor uniform resource indicator (URI). The current namespace is associated with a current prefix and current URI. The search is performed to find an ancestor prefix matches the current prefix. When the current namespace is an implicit no default namespace and the ancestor namespace is an explicit default namespace based on, at least in part, the ancestor prefix, a serialized namespace declaration is generated for the current namespace.

Abstract: A heuristic approach is used to order materialized view (MW) candidates in a list based on descending order of their reduction power. A query (e.g., SQL query) is then matched with the MVs in the list order, wherein searching is stopped when matching has been found. The query is matched with materialized views in the ordered list by identifying a materialized view candidate as follows: identifying an MV that is not locked by a REFRESH process; identifying a matching MV that does not require a regroup; identifying a matching MV that does not require a rejoin; identifying a matching MV that does not require a residual join; or identifying an MV with largest reduction power from the list of candidates.