Patent ID: 7496584
Filing Date: 2009-02-24
Classification: G06F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method performed on a computer system for estimating a cardinality value for a set of data values, the method comprising: initializing a data structure for representing an array of counts, wherein a given entry in the array of counts indicates a number of data values that have hashed to a position of the given entry; obtaining a data value from said set of data values; transforming said data value into a transformed string; modifying said data structure with said transformed string; obtaining a summary statistic value from said modified data structure, wherein the summary statistic value is based on the array of counts; and generating said estimated cardinality value using said summary statistic value, wherein said generating step is performed for each distinct occurrence of a hashing function within a plurality of hashing functions, and wherein said generating step further comprises: