Abstract: A method for reducing storage requirements in a database. The data to be encoded and stored in the database record is first analyzed to determine its characteristics. The data analyzed can be a sample of the records to enter and store or the entire data set. The analysis can be performed by a computer software module, or can be done manually, or by a combination of computer processing of the input stream of data and manual analysis to determine trends and characteristics. An encoding scheme is devised to encode the information input with a bit stream that represents the information. The information input is compacted to convert it into a uniform format. The encoded and compacted information are then stored in the corresponding database record. When a user wants to retrieve a particular record from the database, the compacted information is entered by the user, which in turn, is used as a key to retrieve the record.

Abstract: A method for reducing storage requirements in a database having at least one low cardinality field. Dynamically assigned encoded values are stored with associated string values of low cardinality in a permanent database table. The contents of the permanent database are loaded into a cache which is searched when entering new string values or retrieving existing string values. The encoded values are stored in the database records instead of the string value. When a string value is to be stored in a database, its code is looked up in the cache. If the string value is not found, the next encoded value is dynamically assigned and stored in the permanent database table of encoded values. The cache is reloaded with encoded value and string value pairs from the permanent database table. To retrieve the string value for a low cardinality field in a database record, the cache is searched for the encoded value to determine the associated string value. The string value is then returned to the end user.

Abstract: A method for reducing storage requirements in a database. The data to be encoded and stored in the database record is first analyzed to determine its characteristics. The data analyzed can be a sample of the records to enter and store or the entire data set. The analysis can be performed by a computer software module, or can be done manually, or by a combination of computer processing of the input stream of data and manual analysis to determine trends and characteristics. An encoding scheme is devised to encode the information input with a bit stream that represents the information. The information input is compacted to convert it into a uniform format. The encoded and compacted information are then stored in the corresponding database record. When a user wants to retrieve a particular record from the database, the compacted information is entered by the user, which in turn, is used as a key to retrieve the record.