Method and apparatus for indexing database columns with bit vectors

摘要

A server performs an indexing method of data management to create and maintain indexes more efficiently than existing indexing approaches. The server is disposed between an application program and a DBMS and is coupled to a data base located within the DBMS. The data base has an ordered set of data values stored in memory. Each data value has a bit pattern and an identifier associated therewith. The server creates a plurality of bit vectors such that the number of bit vectors created equals the longest length bit pattern for the values. The server accesses one of the values stored in the data base. Each bit of the bit pattern for the value is then assigned by the server to a unique position in successive bit vectors. The bits are assigned to identical unique positions in each of the successive bit vectors. The server repeats the above-described accessing and assigning steps for each remaining value of the set to form an index of bit vectors for the values.