SLOW MATERIALIZATION SORT OF PARTIALLY ORDERED INPUTS IN A DATABASE SYSTEM

摘要

The invention improves performance of a query in a database system when a pl an for the query includes sorting an input that is at least partially sorted such that a slow materialization sort can be applied. The invention applies the slow materialization sort by determini ng a sequence of subsets in accordance with the partially sorted input. As each of the subset s is determined, the subset is output for further processing. Advantageously, the invention reduc es the waiting period for obtaining results from a sorting operation under certain circumstances.< /SDOAB>