Abstract: A circuit board includes first and second reference plane layers. A first decoupling capacitor is mounted to a surface of the first reference plane layer, and a second decoupling capacitor is mounted to a surface of the second reference plane layer. Vias extend generally along a first direction through the circuit board. The first and second decoupling capacitors are aligned generally along the first direction to increase an amount of space through which the vias are extendable.

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, database system, and computer program are disclosed for optimized costing. The method includes identifying a join that identifies a first table and a second table. The method further includes determining an optimized cost of reading the first table. If the number of unique first table values is greater than the number of unique second table values, the number of instances where a unique first table value matches a unique second table value is returned. Otherwise, the number of unique first table values is returned. The method further includes determining an optimized cost of reading the second table. The optimized cost of reading the second table includes the number of unique second table values. The method also includes summing the optimized cost of reading the first table and the optimized cost of reading the second table.

Abstract: Methods and systems for efficient and accurate re-starting of data transfers using volatile data transfer mechanisms, such as pipes, following an error. According to one embodiment, portions of the transferred data can be saved in a fallback file. In addition, checkpoint commands can be periodically provided, upon which much of the data in the fallback file can be overwritten. During the original transmission, the data that has passed through the mechanism can be counted, and a signature for the data that has passed can be accumulated. After certain error conditions, the data in the fallback file can be recovered and passed to the receiving process and the transmission can then be resumed at the point where it had left off. After other errors requiring a complete re-start, a second signature of the re-transmitted data can be accumulated and original and second signatures compared to determine if the data is valid.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for moving data objects in a database system. In one implementation, a database system includes: one or more data storage facilities for use in storing data composing records in tables of a database, where at least one data storage facility includes at least two types of data storage devices each belonging to a respective data storage class, and at least one data storage facility stores one or more data objects each including one or more migration parameters; one or more processing modules configured to manage the data stored in the data-storage facilities and to move data objects among data storage devices in different data storage classes according to the migration parameters of the data objects; and a database management component configured to coordinate the operation of the processing modules.

Abstract: A method, computer program, and computer system for updating a database system using a parallel application are disclosed. The parallel application includes a plurality of parallel operators. The method includes receiving records. A unique identifier is assigned to each record. A user defined rule condition is evaluated for each record. An action identifier is assigned to a subset of the records, based on the evaluation of the user defined rule condition. The records are transmitted to the database system with the unique identifiers and, for each of the subset of records, action identifiers.

Abstract: An execution plan of a query for a parallel database system is determined. In one arrangement, the parallel database system is a relational database management system. The execution plan of the query is determined by an optimizer program. Execution plans are inserted into one or more explain tables that are accessible by a visual explain and compare module to display the steps of the execution plan in a graphical user interface. Parallel execution of steps of the execution plan can be depicted in the graphical user interface. Further, plural execution plans for a given query under different conditions may be compared.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for implementing an extensible data type in a database management system. In one implementation, a database system includes: one or more data storage facilities for use in storing data composing records in tables of a database; one or more processing modules configured to manage the data stored in the data-storage facilities; a database management component configured to provide an object-based extensible data type, where an extensible data type includes one or more data members; and a type registry accessible by the database management component, where the type registry stores a registry object for each type supported by the database system and for at least one extensible data type.

Abstract: A method and apparatus enables a client system to perform multi-phase parallel operations upon data in a database system. A data transaction request received by the client system. A plurality of multi-phase parallel tasks are executed in response to the request to perform the data operations upon the data in the database.

Abstract: A system is described for providing performance feedback to a cashier at a POS terminal. The system includes a display for displaying information to a cashier operating the POS terminal. The display displays a performance goal screen at the start of a work session, indicating to the cashier a performance goal for the work session. The POS terminal measures the cashier's performance during the work session and, at the end of the work session, the display displays a performance report screen comparing the cashier's measured performance with the performance goal.

Abstract: A circuit board includes an assembly having first and second power reference plane layers, and an insulator layer between the first and second power reference plane layers. Discrete decoupling capacitors are further provided with the assembly. Additional layers are provided above and below the assembly.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for displaying multiple window applets on a computer. The applet is written using the frame class and intercepts the methods by which an applet is started and started by the computer to allow more than one applet, or more than one applet window, to be open at any given time. By intelligently intercepting the start and stop methods, and tracking which applets are open, multiple applets can be open at any given time within the system.

Abstract: A method for performing a join of a first table and a second table is disclosed. In one instance, each of the plurality of first table rows is grouped into one of a plurality of first table partitions. It is determined that a partitioning column of the first table is specified in an equality condition of the join. One of the plurality of second table rows is selected, and a partition number is generated for the selected one of the plurality of second table rows. For a second table row for which a partition number was generated, a first table partition with a partition number that matches the generated partition number is identified, and a product join is used to join the one or more first table rows in the matching partition with the selected one of the second table rows.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and data structures are provided to construct, submit, and process multi-attributal searches. An item, which includes a plurality of attributes, is received. Each attribute includes an attribute value. One or more of the attribute values are modified, and the modified item is sent to a number of data stores or processing devices. If a substantial match on the number of data stores or the processing devices is detected then answer items are received representing the substantial matches that were found on the number of data stores or the processing devices. The answer items are ranked and presented.

Abstract: A method for retrieving information from a database includes identifying a cylinder. The cylinder includes a plurality of data segments. The method also includes retrieving the plurality of data segments from the cylinder during a single retrieval operation. In addition, the method includes storing the plurality of data segments in a cache.

Abstract: A circuit board includes multiple segments, with a first segment having plural signal layers and a second segment having plural signal layers. Signal paths provided by signal layers of the first segment exhibit higher speed signal transmission capability than signal paths provided by the signal layers of the second segment.

Abstract: A method for joining two value-ordered primary index tables T1 and T2 in response to a join command is disclosed. T1 and T2 each include rows. T1 and T2 each have a first row. A subset of the rows of T1 is loaded into memory. The subset is consecutive and includes the first row of T1. The first row of T2 is loaded into memory. The loaded row of T2 is compared to the loaded rows of T1. If there is a match, it is output. If there is not a match, that lack is recorded. A next consecutive row of T2 is loaded into memory. The comparison, output, recording, and loading of consecutive T2 rows is repeated. New rows of T1 are loaded into memory. The new rows are consecutive and are consecutive with the previously loaded rows of T1. The combination of a repetition of comparison, output, recording, and loading of consecutive T2 rows with loading new rows of T1 into memory is repeated.

Abstract: An execution plan of a query for a parallel database system is determined. In one arrangement, the parallel database system is a relational database management system. The execution plan of the query is determined by an optimizer program. Execution plans are inserted into one or more explain tables that are accessible by a visual explain and compare module to display the steps of the execution plan in a graphical user interface. Parallel execution of steps of the execution plan can be depicted in the graphical user interface. Further, plural execution plans for a given query under different conditions may be displayed for comparison.

Abstract: A database system includes a locking mechanism for an aggregate materialized view defined on base relations. In response to updates of a base relation, predefined locks are placed on the aggregate materialized view. With locking mechanisms, transaction concurrency is enhanced by enabling concurrent updates of the materialized view by plural transactions in certain cases, while avoiding the situation in which multiple tuples belonging to the same group are integrated as separate tuples into the aggregate materialized view.

Abstract: A database system includes a locking mechanism for a view defined on one or more base relations. A B-tree index is defined on the view. In response to updates of a base relation, predefined locks are placed on the view. With locking mechanisms according to some embodiments of the invention, concurrency of transactions that access the view and B-tree index is enhanced by enabling concurrent updates of the materialized view by plural transactions in certain cases, while avoiding read-write and write-read conflicts.