Method and database computer system for performing a database query using a bitmap index

US10810197B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cisco Technology, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jörg Bienert · Hürth, DE
• Michael Hummel · Austin, US
• Norbert Heusser · Bonn, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 28, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 20, 2020
• Expiry date: Apr 7, 2037

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06F16/24556
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for performing a database query using a bitmap index in a data-base having a plurality of bitmap vectors, the method comprising the steps of: upon receipt of a query containing a selection condition, creating a filter bitmap based on the query input; performing a bitmap scan for the filter bitmap in order to determine at least one value of an existing matching data-base entry; determining a bitmap of the determined at least one value; creating a filtered bitmap by combining the filter bitmap with the bitmap of the determined at least one value; determining all entries in the database matching the filtered bitmap; sub-tracting the filtered bitmap from the filter bitmap, thus creating a new filter bitmap; repeating the steps, starting with the step of performing a bitmap scan based on the new filter bitmap, until the step of sub-tracting results in an empty bitmap.