Abstract: A system and method for managing SQL queries in a database system. The system and method allocates database sessions to database queries and manages the database sessions and queries to provide improved, near real-time access to a database system.

Abstract: A system and method for managing a complex information process. The system includes an interface for allowing a user to manipulate identifiers indicative of respective information processes to create a user-defined process order; and a processor responsive to the interface for compiling the information processes in accordance with the user-defined process order to define a complex information process. The method includes the steps of manipulating identifiers indicative of respective information processes to create a user-defined process order; and compiling the information processes in accordance with the user-defined process order to define a complex information process.

Abstract: A SQL query that includes an IN-List is optimized by utilizing an array insert to insert the IN-List into a spool and piggybacking IN-List rows into a join step.

Abstract: A technique for managing storage of a data object in a storage device involves receiving the data object (A) to store in the storage device, where the data object has an indicator bit pattern (P). Successive compression data transformations are applied to data object A to obtain respective corresponding compressed data objects, and one of these compressed data objects is selected, such that the selected compressed data object (C) has the shortest length with respect to the remaining compressed data objects. Compression information (I) is then associated with the compression data transformation used to generate data object C, and a threshold value T is calculated at least partly from the length of compression information I. If length (C)+T?length (A), then the indicator bit pattern of data object A is reset and the data object A is written to the storage device.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes at least two conductive traces, each having a first portion and a second portion. The printed circuit board also includes a cross-over section that includes two electrically conductive portions, each connecting electrically to the first and second portions of a corresponding one of the conductive traces, such that the conductive traces in their first portions lie on opposite sides of each other as they do in their second portions.

Abstract: A system includes at least two database systems that both store a common portion of a relational database and that are configured to share in execution of a database workload against that relational database. The system also includes a system-management component configured to receive indication that a first one of the database systems is ceasing operation and, in response, take a second one of the database systems to an operational state in which at least a portion of the database workload that is scheduled to be carried out by the first database system is transferred to the second database system.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes multiple layers on which electrically conductive traces reside, where at least two of the electrically conductive traces each has a first portion formed on one layer of the printed circuit board and a second portion formed on another layer of the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board also includes a thru-hole via that includes at least two electrically conductive portions electrically isolated from each other, such that each of the electrically conductive portions connects electrically to both the first and second portions of a corresponding one of the electrically conductive traces.

Abstract: A system for use in assisting a financial transaction between a financial-services institution and a customer of that institution includes a display component including circuitry for creating a visual display for a human user of the system and a mobile interface component configured to receive information gathered by a self-service terminal through which the customer engages in the financial transaction. The system also includes a control component configured to receive from the mobile interface component information related to the financial transaction and to deliver the information to the display component for presentation to the user. The display component, mobile interface component, and control component are all packaged in a housing of a size that allows the user to hold the system in one hand while using it.

Abstract: A method for updating an index in a database includes storing a plurality of changes to be made to a database index in a change table. Each of the changes is associated with an identifier. The method also includes sorting the changes in the change table based on the identifier associated with each of the changes. The method further includes updating the database index using the sorted changes. The database index includes a data block, and updating the database index includes applying at least two of the changes from the change table to the data block during a single operation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus to provide security for data in a database system includes providing a secure user-defined data type (UDT) that has security features. The secure UDT defines security information, which in one arrangement is in the form of a list of identifiers of authorized users or other entities. Each data instance according to the secure UDT stored in tables of the database system is associated with such an access list. Thus, in response to a query, the security information is accessed to determine whether the user or other entity that issued the query has rights to access the data. Access is then allowed or denied based on the security information.

Abstract: An interactive visual-modeling tool helps a database architect implement a database system. The tool gathers information about data that will form the content of the database, gathers information about one or more applications that will access the database, and gathers information about one or more phases in which the database-implementation project will occur. The tool uses this information to create a model of relationships among the content, the applications, and the project phases and to calculate costs for the implementation project. The tool then presents the model and the calculated costs to a human user through a graphical display.

Abstract: Detecting data corruption includes receiving one or more blocks of data to be written to a storage device, selecting a portion of the data in the blocks (e.g., one or more bytes or data words), applying a rule to derive information characterizing the selected portion of data (e.g., calculating a checksum for the for the portions of data selected from the block to be written), and storing this information. After the data has been written to the storage device, the store information is used in deciding whether the data has been corrupted.

Abstract: A data-processing technique improves the process of “householding” customer data in a company's relational database system. The process involves combining data from two or more attribute columns in one or more relational tables to form a single column of concatenated data. The concatenated data is used in identifying two or more records that share a common value, which indicates that the records all represent a particular customer. A unique identification value is assigned to this customer and is stored with each of the identified records. In some embodiments, the process is used in identifying records that represent multiple customers living together in a single household.

Abstract: A method and computer program for reducing the restart time for a parallel application are disclosed. The parallel application includes a plurality of parallel operators. The method includes repeating the following: setting a time interval to a next checkpoint; waiting until the time interval expires; sending checkpoint requests to each of the plurality of parallel operators; and receiving and processing messages from one or more of the plurality of parallel operators. The method also includes receiving a checkpoint request message on a control data stream, waiting to enter a state suitable for checkpointing, and sending a response message on the control data stream.

Abstract: A non-blocking parallel band join method and apparatus partitions tuples of two relations for localized processing. At each processing node, the tuples are further partitioned such that join operations may be performed efficiently, as tuples are received by the node during the partitioning.

Abstract: A printed circuit board includes a power layer for use in providing electrical power to circuit components and a ground layer for use in carrying electrical current away from the circuit components. A loss element connects electrically between the power layer and ground layer to suppress electrical noise caused by changes in current flow in the circuit components.

Abstract: An interconnect switch is used to couple input ports and output ports. The interconnect switch includes a central buffer having a number of storage entries to store data units from input ports. When an output port is available, data unit(s) are transferred from the central buffer to an output port. A main pointer queue contains addresses that point to storage entries in the central buffer.

Abstract: A heat dissipation apparatus has an elongated heat conduit (such as a heat pipe) in thermal communication with a heat spreader for thermally contacting a heat-generating device. The heat spreader has a phase-change mechanism to spread heat within the heat spreader. In one implementation, the phase-change mechanism includes paths for heated vapor flow and cooled liquid flow.

Abstract: A parallel spatial join index is used for efficient join operations involving spatial data, including polygon data. The join operations between spatial data from two different tables are performed in parallel in a multi-processor environment. Join indices are created, based upon spatial object attributes from the two tables. Auxiliary relations are constructed from the two tables as well, and further include data for avoiding duplicate join results. R-trees index the auxiliary relations and B-trees index the join indices.

Abstract: A method and apparatus of analyzing a target system comprises receiving information relating to an environment of the target system and storing cost data based on the environment information. The plan and its estimated performance for a query may be determined based on the cost data. The environment information may pertain to the environment of a parallel system (e.g., a multi-node parallel system, a single-node parallel system having plural central processing units or a system running plural virtual processors) that is running a parallel database. The cost data may identify a number of nodes in the target system, a number of central processing units in each node of the target system, and other types of system information. The cost data may be stored in a relational table having a plurality of rows. Each row of the relational table may correspond to a different target system.