Patent ID: 8032495
Filing Date: 2011-10-04
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method performed by one or more processors for accessing an index list which stores pointers to records in a data store, wherein some of the pointers in the index list are compressed, the method comprising: reading a first entry in the index list, the first entry comprising a first pointer representing an address within a data store where a first record is located, the first pointer having a first size; reading a second entry in the index list, the second entry comprising a header of a compressed portion of the index list, the compressed portion including a plurality of delta pointers that each represent an address within the data store where a corresponding record is located, each delta pointer having a size that is smaller than the first size, and wherein the header includes a size indicator that, when set to one of a plurality of values, defines the size of each delta pointer within the compressed portion; determining the location of a third entry comprising a first delta pointer in the compressed portion of the index list by calculating an offset from a base address of the compressed portion based on the size of the delta pointers as defined by the size indicator; and reading the third entry by accessing the index list at the determined location.