Abstract: Method and apparatus for adding annotations to an index are disclosed. Annotation is defined as any supplemental information that may be stored in an index node in addition to the usual key and data references. Adding annotations to the index opens numerous applicative possibilities, including but not limited to, storing and retrieving aggregation, statistical, and security information pertaining to the indexed data and to the index itself.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for efficient bulk-loading of PATRICIA tries is disclosed. The trie is converted to its persistent representation prior to being written to an index block. Four arrays are used in the process of this conversion: a first is array used for the value nodes, a second array used for the inner nodes constituting a point-of-difference, a third array is used for storing parent pointers, and a fourth array is used for storing the running size of sub-tries. While creating the index nodes, the indexing system continuously attempts to determine the boundaries of the finished sub-tries. It also attempts to find the largest finished sub-trie that fits into a given size index block and, upon finding one, creates the persistent representation of the sub-trie and writes it into the index block.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for adding annotations to an index are disclosed. Annotation is defined as any supplemental information that may be stored in an index node in addition to the usual key and data references. Adding annotations to the index opens numerous applicative possibilities, including but not limited to, storing and retrieving aggregation, statistical, and security information pertaining to the indexed data and to the index itself.