Abstract: A partial-blocking consistency point system identifies transaction updates with a consistency point ID associated with a consistency point sequence number, records consistency point data that identify a location of the partial-blocking consistency point, flushes to a non-volatile storage the transaction updates identified with the consistency point sequence number without blocking transaction activity, and hardens to the non-volatile storage the recorded partial-blocking consistency point so that data associated with the recorded partial-blocking consistency point can be recovered. The consistency point sequence number is incremented each time the partial-blocking consistency point is recorded to uniquely identify the partial-blocking consistency point and transaction updates associated with the partial-blocking consistency point. The transaction updates identified with the consistency point sequence number are processed to improve efficiency of the flushing of the transaction updates.

Abstract: A method of searching for information within a database that includes: identifying a set of leading index key columns, from among a plurality of index key columns, that has a limited number of unique values; utilizing the identified set of leading index key columns to perform an index scan in order to retrieve each unique value from the set of leading index key columns; and utilizing each of the retrieved unique values from the set of leading index key columns to perform an index lead key self-join operation, such that predicates on the non-leading index key columns are utilized to position an index scan operation.

Abstract: A partial-blocking consistency point system identifies transaction updates with a consistency point ID associated with a consistency point sequence number, records consistency point data that identify a location of the partial-blocking consistency point, flushes to a non-volatile storage the transaction updates identified with the consistency point sequence number without blocking transaction activity, and hardens to the non-volatile storage the recorded partial-blocking consistency point so that data associated with the recorded partial-blocking consistency point can be recovered. The consistency point sequence number is incremented each time the partial-blocking consistency point is recorded to uniquely identify the partial-blocking consistency point and transaction updates associated with the partial-blocking consistency point. The transaction updates identified with the consistency point sequence number are processed to improve efficiency of the flushing of the transaction updates.