Patent ID: 7836036
Filing Date: 2010-11-16
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
1. A method for estimating distances between multiple index-driven scan operations, the method comprising: performing the following with a processor: identifying, during a first index scan of an index of a data storage, a first anchor index entry within the index, wherein the index is maintained within an index data structure, and wherein the first anchor index entry is processed by the first index scan; determining, subsequent to the identifying and based on information maintained external to an index structure, a first number of index entries within the index that are between the first anchor index entry and a first current entry that is currently being processed by a first index scan; determining, for a second index scan of the index of the data storage that is executing concurrently with the first index scan and based on information maintained external to the index structure, a second number of index entries within the index that are between the first anchor index entry and a second current entry that is currently being processed by a second index scan; and determining, based upon the first number of index entries and the second number of index entries, a distance between a first current entry being currently processed by the first index scan and a second current entry being currently processed by the second index scan, the distance being based upon a difference between the first number of index entries and the second number of index entries.