STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF ORDERED SETS OF KEYS IN A COMPACT 0-COMPLETE TREE

Abstract: A computer storage system and processing method for indexing and accessing data stored in the computer storage system, comprising a compact multi-way search tree structure. The method employs a B-tree like search algorithm that is independent of key type or key length because all keys in index blocks are encoded by a log2M bit surrogate, where M is the maximal key length. A buffer consisting of a sorted list of key values can be directly transformed into a representation of a C0-tree.

Description: STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL OF ORDERED SETS OF KEYS IN A COMPACT 0-COMPLETE TREE Field of he Invention The invention relates to computer data and file storage systems and to a structure for indexing and accessing data in computer data and file storage systems, and more particularly, to a novel structure for implementing a compact representation of a 0-complete tree and a method of storing and retrieving a set of search keys in such a structure. Background of the Invention A recurring problem in data and file storage systems such as a database, in particular those implemented in computer systems, is the search for and location of specific items of information stored in the database. Such searches are generally accomplished by constructing a directory, or index, to the database, and using search keys to search through the index to find pointers to the most likely locations of the information in the database, whether that location is within the memory or the storage medium of the computer. In its most usual forms, an index to database records within a computer is structured as a tree comprised of one or more nodes, connected by branches, which is stored within a storage means of the computer. Each node generally includes one or more branch fields containing information for directing a search, and each such branch field usually contains a pointer, or branch, to another node, and an associated branch key indicating ranges or types of information that may be located along that branch from the node. The tree, and any search of the tree, begins at a single node referred to as the root node and progresses downwards through the various branch nodes until the nodes containing either the items of information or. more usually, pointers to items of information are reached. The information related nodes are often referred to as leaf nodes or. since this is the level at which the search either succeeds or fails, failure nodes. Within a tree storage structure of a computer, any node within a tree is a parent node with respect to all nodes dependent from that node, and sub-structures within a tree which are dependent from that parent node are often referred to as subtrees with respect to that node. The decision as to which direction, or branch, to take through a tree storage structure in a search is determined by comparing the search key and the branch keys stored in each node encountered in the search. The results of the comparisons to the branches depending from a given node are to be followed in the next step ofthe search. In this regard, search keys are most generally comprised of strings of characters or numbers which relate to the item or items of information to be searched for within the computer system. The prior art contains a variety of search tree data storage structures for computer database systems, among which is the apparent ancestor from which all later tree structures have been developed and the most general form of search tree well known in the an. the "B-tree." (See, for example, nuth. The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 3, pp. 473-479). A B-tree provides both satisfactory primary access and good secondary access to a data set. Therefore, these trees naturally tend to be used in data storage structure often utilized by database and file systems. Nevertheless, there are problems that exist with the utilization of B-tree storage structures within database systems. Every indexed attribute value must be replicated in the index itself. The cumulative effect of replicating many secondary index values is to create indices which often exceed the size of the database itself. This overhead can force database designers to reject potentially useful access paths. Moreover, inclusion of search key values within blocks ofthe B-tree significantly decreases the block fan out and increases tree depth and retrieval time. Another tree structure which can be implemented in computer database systems, compact 0-complete trees (i.e., C 0 -trees), eliminates search values from indices by replacing them with small surrogates whose typical 8-bit length will be adequate for most practical key lengths (i.e., less than 32 bytes). Thus, actual values can be stored anywhere in arbitrary order, leaving the indices to the tree structure to be just hierarchical collections of (surrogate, pointer) pairs stored in an index block. This organization can reduce the size o the indexes by about 50% to 80% and increases the branching factor of the trees, which provides a reduction in the number of disk accesses in the system per exact match query within computer database systems. (See Orlandic and Pfaltz, Compact O-Complete Trees. Proceedings of the Nth VLDB Conference, pp. 372-381.) While the known method of creating C 0 -trees increases storage utilization 50% to 80% over B-trees, there is a waste of storage space due to the presence of dummy entries (surrogate, pointer=NIL) wherein the number of index entries at the lowest level of the tree exceeds the actual number of records stored. T erefore, the expected storage utilization of index entries of C 0 -trees at the lowest tree level is 0.567 versus 0.693 as in the case of B-trees. Moreover, although B-trees and C 0 -tree storage structures represent efficient methods of searching for values, both methods require initial generation of the tree data storage structure itself. Neither of these computer storage structures inherently stores information in sorted order. A tree can be built more efficiently if the key records are initially sorted in the order of their key field, than if records are in random order. Therefore, an efficient computer database system should sort sets of keys first, and then build a tree based on keys extracted at intervals from the sorted keys. If the values are in sorted ordered, the next key value to be stored is likely within the range of key values for the current leaf index block or subtree. In addition, index block splitting can be deferred until all keys within a given key interval of the current index block are inserted. Therefore, a goal is to build a data storage structure and method which effectively inputs an ordered -sort of key records or data items within a key range interval in the most efficient way possible. In particular, the data storage structure and method should reduce wasted storage space and, during input, sort the search kevs that access the data items stored w ithin the storage medium or memory ofthe computer This goal is to be achieved while simultaneously retaining the ments and taking advantage of the properties of known B-tree and C 0 -tree computer storage structures Summary of he Invention In an embodiment ofthe invention, a data storage structure for minimizing the amount of information required to retrieve stored data within a computer system is compπsed of entπes for indexing search keys Each entry compπses a depth value and a data present indicator havmg two conditions, and a tree structure stored in the computer interconnecting the entπes and forming the data storage structure Search keys may be binary representations ot the data records indexed by the data storage structure or may be any other attnbute or set of attπbutes used to look up the data records The data storage structure further compπses a means for stoπng a count of each ofthe entπes associated with a search key interval range The descnbed embodiment of the present invention includes novel methods for stoπng, accessing and retrieving data indexed bv the tree data storage structure These methods compπse a method for sequentially processing a number of search keys within the tree structure to perform a predefined function on each search key, a method for locating a search kev within the tree structure, a method for stoπng and indexing information for each search ke\ within the tree structure, and a method for splitting an index block ofthe present invention An embodiment of the present invention also provides additional efficiency with regards to storage utilization beyond the already stated 50% to 80% savings of Cg-trees over B-trees To alleviate the problem of waste created by C 0 -trees at the lowest le\ eis. a preferred embodiment of the invention replaces storage of the (surrogate, pointer) entnes as physically adjacent pairs of values with two separate physical structures within the storage means of the computer, nameh 1 ) an index block depths structure to a list of the surrogate \ alues including a depth value and a data present structure indicator having two conditions and 2) a pointers structure pointing to a list of every non-NIL pointer value, these being in lexicographic order In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a NIL pointer of the pnor C Q -tree data storage structure (I e , a dummy entry) is represented by a data not present indicator bit in the value of the surrogate itself The meta-data of each subtree also reflects the count of non-NIL entπes for each subtree to accumulate an incremental lexical position for each indexed key within the pointers structure Since the pointers structure does not contain any NIL pointers, only a bit of storage is necessary to indicate a NIL pointer and minimal meta-data is recorded Therefore, storage utilization tends to revert back to that which is expected with a B-tree Moreover to eliminate the inefficiency of traversing a multilevel tree structure, the keys to be added to the data storage structure of the preferred embodiment of the present invention are processed as a collection or more than one item in sorted order In this wav. greater locality of reference and reduction in traversal and maintenance ofthe nodes ofthe tree (including index block splitting) trom the root to the leaf for each kev can be realized By determining i f the next key is included in the key interval range of the current index block , processing of a predefined function can continue in the current index block or resume in its parent block W i th this new method. splitting of an index block is deterred until all processmg ot the current block is completed or the block size is at an extreme maximum far greater than the normal threshold , thus , allowing for context retention of the subtree until all relevant ke s have been added to that subtree St i ll other embodiments of the present in ention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed descπption wherein is shown and descnbed only embod i ments of the invention by way of illustration for carrying out the invention As will be real i zed , the invention is capable of other and different embodiments and its several details are capable of modifications in vanous obvious respects, all without departing from the spiπt ofthe i nvention Accordingly, the drawings and the detailed descπption are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restπctive O 97/21178 PO7US96/18510 Brief Description of the Drawings The previous descnptions and all ofthe structures and features of the present invention and its embodiments will become apparent trom the follow ing descπption and accompanying drawings FIG la is a schematic and block diagram of a computer system in which is implemented the present invention FIG l b is a schematic and block diagram of a database system on a computer for implementing the present invention FIG 2a is a conceptual illustration ot a pnor art complete binary tree FIG. 2b is a conceptual illustration ot a pnor art 0-complete binary tree FIG 3 a is a diagram of a pnor art Cø-tree index structure for values stored in a database FIG 3b is a diagram of the Cn-tree of FIG 3a before splitting occurs FIG 4a illustrates an instantiation of a Cø-tree of the present invention FIG 4b is a detailed diagram of the contents of the storage container ot the Cø-tree of FIG 4a FIG 5 illustrates an exemplary three level embodiment of a Cn-tree according to the present invention FIG 6a is the diagram of an exemplary node ofthe storage structure FIG 6b is the diagram of an exemplary INIT node FIG. 7 is a flow chart of the Sequential Processing Procedure ot the present invention FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the Leaf Search Procedure of the present invention FIG. 9 is a flow chart ofthe Leaf Insert Procedure of the present invention FIG 10 is a flow chart ofthe Branch Search Procedure ofthe present invention FIG. 1 1 is a flow chart of the Branch Insert Procedure of the present invention FIG 12 is a flow chart of the Search Depth Procedure of the present invention FIG 13 is a figure o the Bulk Process Procedure ot the present inv ention FIG. 14 is a figure of the Reset bK function of the present invention FIG. 15 is a flow chart of the Add Depth Procedure ot the present invention FIG. 16a is a flow chart of a Split Root Procedure of the present invention FIG 16b is an illustration of the root level before splitting FIG. 16c is an illustration ofthe root level after splitting occurs FIG 17 is a flow chart of the Split Child Procedure ofthe present invention FIG. 18 is a flow chart of the Minimum Depth Procedure ofthe present invention FIG 19 is a flow chart ofthe Split Node Procedure of the present invention Like numbers and designations in the drawings refer to like elements. Detailed Description A) Computer System Overview FIG l a depicts a computer system having a programmable computer and computer programs for creating a file system and for processing operations on the file system in accordance with the present invention The system includes programmable computer 1. display 2, computer input device 3 and a storage means The storage means compnses a storage αevice 4 such as a magnetic disk storage system or a partition of memon. of the computer for storage of data Hardware/and software including the file system and hardware/and software for performing processing operations to be described are implemented in a file system 5 (shown in phantom lines), which is connected with computer 1 The system 5 in connection with computer 1 coordinates the vaπous activities related to representing data in the file system and to performing operations on one or more data files stored within the storage device 4 System 5 can be a programmed general purpose computer, such as a personal, mini or mainframe computer, or a special purpose computer formed by one or more integrated chips Referring to FIG l b file system 5 includes a file processing unit 7 and a command interpreter 6 In order to access specific items of information stored in the computer file sv stem, the file processing unit 7 uses a novel compact 0-complete data storage structure 40 as depicted in FIG 4 for minimizing the amount of information required to retπeve items of data stored within the storage device 4 The data storage structure has a plurality of entnes 30. 31, 80, 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88 for indexing search keys 1420, wherein each entry compnses a depth value 89 and a data present indicator 90, the latter, by way of example having two conditions, and a novel C 0 -tree structure 43 stored in the storage device 4 of the computer interconnecting the entπes and forming the data storage structure 40 The data storage structure 40 further includes a means 66 for stoπng the count ofthe non-NIL leaf entπes associated with a search key interval range In addition, the present invention uses a separate pointers structure compπsed of header 36 and entπes 36a. that is distinct from the tree structure 43 and. in a typical embodiment may be distinct trom the data storage structure 40 itself The pointers structure 36 and 36a accesses the data items within the storage container 39 of the storage device 4 The descnbed embodiment ofthe present invention includes novel methods for stoπng, accessing and retnevmg data indexed by the tree data storage structure These methods include a method for sequentially processing a number of search keys within the tree structure to perform a predefined function on each search key, a method for locating a search key within the tree structure, a method for stonng and indexing information for each search key within the tree structure, and a method for splitting an index block of the present invention B) Prior Art Tree Structures Referπng now to FIGS 2a and 2b, there is shown a pnor art complete binary tree and a 0-complete binary tree, respectively, and how these trees are used to index data 1) Complete Binary Tree Referring to FIG. 2a, binary tree 1402 is an illustrative edge labeled tree data storage structure consisting of nodes indicated by dots, such as 1406. 1408 and 1410. separated by arcs or edges, such as 1412 and 1414. The nodes are identified by small and capital letters a through Z and A'. The end nodes are called leaf nodes or leafs and are labeled with capital letters. All the other interior nodes are labeled with small letters. Information to be retrieved is stored in storage locations pointed to by pointers located at the tree's leaves, such as leaves 1416 and 1418. Search keys 1420 are shown for leaves H, I, V, W, L, Z. A' and Q. In FIG. 2a. the search keys 1420 are strings of binary digits with an arbitrary, uniform length up to some maximum length in bits, 8 bits being used by way of example. The search keys 1420 associated with each of these leaves are used to locate the pointer to the storage location for the corresponding leaf in the storage device 4. Only those leaves indicated by an associated search key 1420 have a pointer to a storage location that stores associated data records and therefore are said to be full. The leaves G. K, O, S, T and Y do not have pointers to a storage location and therefore are said to be empty. Retrieval of the data records in the storage device 4 is achieved by successively comparing binary 0 and 1 symbols in one of the search keys 1420 with a 0 or 1 edge label on each arc 1412 between the nodes along a path of the connected dots and arcs starting with root node a and ending with the desired leaf. Each node or leaf of the binary tree is either a 0-node or 0-leaf if its entering arc is labeled 0. or a 1 -node or 1 -leaf if its entering arc is labeled 1. In a computer database and file management system, an access path to a node is a binary string obtained by concatenating the 0 and 1 edge iabels traversed from the root node a to the particular node in question. Binary tree structures are said to be "complete" if every node is either a leaf or is a node that has exactly two non-empty direct descendants (i.e.. nodes having a dependent 0-node and a dependent 1 -node). In FIG. 2a. each node from node a to node A' satisfies the two conditions for 0-completeness. Thus, FIG. 2a depicts a tree storage structure with the search keys 1420, including 00001000, 00100101 , 01000010, 010001 10, 1000001, 10101000, 10101010 and 101 10010, to locate data records at leaves H, I, V, W, L, Z, A' and Q respectively. Empty leaves G, K, O, T, S and Y are included within the tree 1402 to fulfill the requirement of a "complete" binary tree. 2) 0-Complete Binary Tree Refer now to FIG. 2b. A prior art 0-complete binary tree 1430 is shown having the same structure, nomenclature and reference numerals as used in FIG. 2a except where noted. Binary tree 1430 with δ leaves is said to be 0-compiete if 1) the sibling of any 0-leaf is present in the tree, and 2) there are exactly δ- 1 1 -nodes in the tree. Thus, FIG. 2b is a 0-compiete binary tree representation of the binary tree of FIG. 2a since every 0-leaf H. V, L, T, Z has a sibling 1 -node, and there are nine leaves H, I, V, W, L, T, Z, A' and Q and eight 1 -nodes I, W, e, c, m, A', U and Q. The 0-complete tree ! 430 is derived from the binary tree 1402 of FIG. 2a by deleting from the tree 1402 those 1 -leaves that are empty (indicated by the lack of an associated search key) such as leaves G. K, O. S and Y. Note that deletion of any empty 0-leaf violates the second condition which requires eight 1 -nodes in tree 1430, so that node T. even though it is empty, remains in the tree storage structure 1430 and increases required storage space. Each interior node, designated by small letters, has a corresponding 0-subtree and 1- subtree. The "pre-order traversal" of a 0-complete tree starts at the root node a of the tree and then iterates the following two steps until the last node has been accessed: 1 ) if the current node nri j is an intemal node then the next node nn i+ ι in the order will be its 0-son because, by definition of 0-completeness. every interior node must have a 0-son node; 2) if the current node nn ; is a leaf then the next node in the pre-order will be the 1 -son ofthe node pp whose 0-subtree contains iui j and whose depth is maximal. Thus, the first node in pre-order is the intemal root node a. The next node is its 0-son node b. which is followed by 0-son nodes d and then leaf H. The next node in pre-order is the 1 -son of the node d since H is a leaf node and the 0-subtree of node d contains H and its depth in the tree is maximal (i.e., depth of 2 as opposed to node b whose 0-subtree contains H and whose depth is 1 ). The complete pre-order traversal of tree 1430 depicted in FIG. 2b is the sequence a b d H I e j n r V W c f L m p T u x Z A' Q. Successor nodes to each leaf node H, I, V, W, L. T, Z, A' except the last leaf node Q in the pre-order traversal of a 0-complete tree are also of special importance. These nodes, termed bounding nodes, are respectively I, e, W, c, m, u. A', Q in FIG. 2b. Since bounding nodes are defined in terms of the pre-order traversal, each leaf node, except the last one Q, has its own unique bounding node. In addition, from the previously stated definition of the pre-order traversal, every bounding node is a 1 -node. 2. a) Key Intervals "Discriminators" of a node and a bounding node can be used to establish a key interval that corresponds to each ieaf in the 0-complete tree. The "discriminator" of a leaf node is a binary string of the same length as the search keys and whose high order, or left-most, bits are the binary bits of the concatenated arcs, or path, leading up to the leaf with all of the other right-most bits set to 0. The "key interval" is formally defined to be the key range between the leaf discriminator (inclusively) and the discriminator of its bounding node (non-inclusively). The exception is again the last leaf (Q by way of example) in the pre-order traversal, whose upper bound of its key interval is always known in advance and consists of all one bits (i.e., 1 1111 1 1 1 ). In Table 1, the key intervals of each leaf node H, I, V, W, L, T, Z, A', Q ofthe 0-complete tree 1 30 are listed in lexicographic order. Thus, for example, leaf V has a discriminator of 01000000 and its corresponding bounding node W has a discriminator 01000100: the key interval of leaf V, as shown in Table 1. is 01000000 (inclusive) to 01000100 (non- clusive ). or 01000000 to 0100001 1 inclusively By examining Table 1 , knowledge of bounding node discπminators is sufficient to identify the appropπate key interval of anv leaf and hence the correspondmg data record with any given search key By way of example using search key 01000010. a search procedure that examines the bounding discπminators of the tree m their pre-order traversal sequence will find the correct key interval for the search key when the first bounding discπminator greater than the search key 01000010 is found The discπminator of the first bounding node I. 00100000. is less than the search key 01000010 The second bounding discπminator of bounding node e in pre- order, 01000000, is also less than the search key The discπminator ofthe third bounding node W, 01000100, is greater and is the non-inclusive upper bound of he key interval for leaf V The inclusive lower bound ofthe key interval for leaf V is the discπminator of the previous bounding node e Along with each key interval in Table 1 , there is shown a number denoting the "depth" of the bounding node in the 0-complete tree 1430 for that key interval For example, the bounding node of leaf V is the leaf W that has a depth of 6 in the 0-complete binary tree For the last node Q, which has no bounding node by definition, the upper bound of its mterval is set to 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 with an assigned depth of 0 There is one apparent regularity in the relationship between discπminators of a set of bounding nodes and their depths If the depth of a bounding node is dd, then by definition of a discπminator, the dd bit ofthe corresponding discnminator is set to 1 with all subsequent lower order bits 0 In Table 1 wherein the key length is eight bits, the initial dummy discπminator is 00000000 and the depth of the first bounding node I is three, the third bit of the first bounding node discriminator is I and all subsequent, low order bits are 0 to obtain the first bounding node discπminator 00100000, the depth ofthe second bounding node e is two. using the first bounding node discπminator. the second bit is set to 1 and all subsequent bits are set to 0 in order to obtain the second bounding node discπminator 01000000 The discπminators of the remainder of the bounding nodes are constructed in a similar manner 3) Prior Art C 0 -Trees Usmg the knowledge that key intervals can be constructed from depths of bounding nodes in a 0-complete binary tree, a pnor art compact form of the 0-complete tree of Fig 2b is represented at 9 in Fig 3a This compact form is called a C 0 -tree The tree structure has index blocks 10. 11, and 12 with entnes 17 When forming a C 0 -tree, the maximum number of entnes 17 in any one index block is always less than or equal to a predetermined full index block number 14 Assuming a predetermined full index block number 14 of five in Fig. 3a, consider now how the tree structure 9 represents the 0-complete binary tree of Fig 2b Each entry 17 of dex blocks 10, 1 1 and 12 has a depth value 17a and a pointer 17b to a storage location 13 The only exception would be a NIL entry, such as 17b\ representing an empty leaf or node of Fig 2b, such as leaf T. This entry 17b' has an emptv pointer 17b with no corresponding data stored in memory and wastes storage space within the computer system. By way of example in Fig. 3a with reference to Table 1. the depth values 3, 2, 6. 1 , of bounding nodes I, e, W. c corresponding to leaves H. I. V, W are stored in index block 1 1 The depth values 3, 5, 7, 4 of bounding nodes m, u, A ' . Q corresponding to leaves L, T, Z. A' and the assigned depth value of 0 for the final leaf node Q are stored in index block 12. The pointer 17b of each entry 17 points to a storage location 13 coπesponding to a search key and its associated data record in memorv or the storage device, except empty pointer 17b of entry 17b' corresponding to empty leaf T of FIG. 2b. Root index block 10 has entnes 17 with pointers 17b that point to a corresponding leaf index block 1 1 and 12. The depth value 17a of each entry 17 of index block 10 corresponds to the last or minimum depth value. 1 and 0, of each respective leaf index block 1 1 and 1 and provides the key interval range for each leaf index block 1 1 and 12. Now consider the known method of splitting a full index block of a compact 0-compiete tree as show in FIG. 3b, wherein the first six search keys have been indexed in the lexicographic order. At this point, the tree structure is a single index block 19 having six entnes 17 which is a compact representation of a conceptual 0-complete binary tree having six leaf nodes indexing search keys 00001000, 00100101 , 01000010, 010001 10, 10000001 , and 10101000. Once the sixth search key 10101000 in order is indexed, the predetermined full index block number 14 of five was exceeded, and a split of index block 19 must occur. The split occurs at the minimum depth of depth values 17a of index block 19, which is 1. This split creates a root index block 20, a leaf index block 21 having depth values 17a of 3.2,6 and 1 and a leaf index block 24 having depth values 17a of 3 and 0. After splitting, parent index block 20 is comprised of two entnes 17. The first entry 22 has a depth value 17a of 1 corresponding to the bounding node depth of a leaf node indexing search key 01000010 in a conceptual binary ύ-complete tree after input of the same six search keys, and the second entry 23 has a depth value 17a of 0 which is always the assigned value of the final leaf node in the pre-order of a 0-complete binary tree. The pointers 17b of entnes 22 and 23 point to index blocks 21 and 24 respectively. B) Compact 0-Complete Data Storage Structure of the Present Invention Now, referencing FIG. 4a, a representation of the data storage structure 40 of an embodiment of the present invention is depicted after the input of the same set of search keys 1420 as in FIGS. 2a, 2b. 3a. A greater number of search keys can be input into the data storage structure 40, and it would be within the skill of the practitioner in the art to apply the described embodiment to a greater set of keys. As opposed to the C 0 -tree of FIG. 3a having blocks 10, 1 1 and 12 with adjacent depth value 17a and pointer 17b entnes 17. the data storage structure of FIG. 4 has tree structure 43 compnsed of root node 47 with index block header 47a indexed to index block entnes 47c and subtree pointer 47b. node 34 with index block header 34a linked to index block entries 34c and subtree pointer 34b, and node 35 with index block header 35a linked to index block entries 35c and subtree pointer 35b. Each entry in 47c. 34c and 35c contains a depth value 89 and a data present indicator 90. In addition, the structure 40 has a separate pointers structure comprised of a pointers header 36 with corresponding entries 36a containing the pointers or referencable indices for the corresponding depth values 89 of leaf index block entries 34c and 35c that are non-NIL. The depth values 89 in 34c and 35c and the indices of pointer entries 36a are representative of the depth values 17a and pointers 17b in index blocks 1 1 and 12 of FIG. 3a. except that empty pointers corresponding to 0-leaf entries such as leaf T are excluded thus reducing wasted storage space. The index block entries 47c of node 47 includes entries 30 and 1 , corresponding to the entries in index block 10 of FIG. 3a which give the last. i.e.. minimum value depth entries in the corresponding index blocks of 34c and 35c, respectively. Pointer 47b of the root level 41 points to the leaf level 64 for key intervals corresponding to each ofthe index block entries 47c. In addition to separation of the corresponding depth values 89 into index block entries 47c, 34c and 35c and pointer entries 36a, counts header 66 with corresponding entries 66a is related. Entries 66a contains count entries 32 and 33 that give the total number of F or full leaf (non-NIL) entries in index block entries 34c and 35c, respectively. Thus, count entry 32 has a value of 4 indicating there are 4 non-NIL 4 entries (or F values) in index block entries 34c. Count entry 33 has a value of 4 indicating there are 4 non-NIL entries (or F values) in index block entries 35c. Thus, the data storage structure 40 has a novel Cø-tree structure 43, a distinct pointers structure 36 and 36a, and a storage container 39. The nodes 34, 35 and 47 and the counts header 66 and counts entries 66a are in the tree structure 43 whereas the referencable indices or pointers are in the separate pointers structure comprised of header 36 and entries 36a. The tree structure 43 in the FIG. 4 example has a height of two. root level 41 and leaf level 64. Index block entnes 47c at root level 41 include two entries 30 and 3 1. and index block entries structures 34c and 35c at leaf level 64 include four entries 80. 81. 82. 83 and five entries 84, 85, 86, 87, 88. respectively. The height or number of levels of a C Q -tree storage structure varies depending on the number of data items and associated search keys to be indexed within the leaf entries of the tree structure 43 and on a predetermined full index block number 79 set within the file system. The described FIG. 4 example embodiment has a predetermined full index block number 79 of five. Depth values 89 are located in index block entries 47c, 34c, 35c that are linked by index block headers 47a, 34a and 35a within the nodes 47, 34 and 35. respectively, of tree structure 43. Pointer entries 36a are linked to tree structure 43 by pointers header 36. Significantly, the data present indicator bit 90 is also in each ofthe index block entries 47c, 34c and 35c. Each indicator bit 90 is in one of two conditions, F or T, represented by 0 and 1. respectively. In depth values 89 at the leaf level 64, a T or first condition, indicates that the corresponding entry is a NIL entry of the Cø-tree of FIG. 3a or empty node of a conceptual 0- complete binary tree such as leaf T at depth value 5 in FIGS. 2a and 2b. An F. or second condition, indicates the corresponding entry is associated with a corresponding data item in the storage device ofthe computer, such as entπes 80 to 84 and 86 to 88 corresponding to leaves H, I, V, W, L, Z, A' and Q of FIGS. 2a and 2b. Each of the non-NIL entnes 80 to 84 and 86 to 88 has a corresponding data item within the storage container 39 of memory 8 of the computer which is addressed by means of one of the pointer entπes 36a. A NIL or T entry such as 85 does not address any index entry in 36a or data item in the storage container 39 Each ofthe pointer entries 36a is a pointer or a referencable index to the coπesponding lexically ordered data item, or alternatively to one of the search keys 1420 which is associated with the data item, stored within the storage device of the computer Consider the data storage structure of the compact 0-complete tree 40 with reference to its component data structures FIG. 6a is an exemplary diagram of the structure of each node within a computer system Node 34 is shown by way of example, the others being identical. Node 34 is composed of two structures Each structure is compnsed of a header to a list of entπes 34c. but each structure may be an arrav or some other form ol data structure. One structure has a map header 34a that points to a iist of entries 34c. and the other is a compound subtree pointer 34b that points a list of elements which may be compπsed of other lists. Compound header C associated with each index block points to the next lower level, if any, of the tree structure 43. Thus, in FIG. 4 compound header 47b points to a subtree of child nodes 34 and 35 in a branch. Each branch may or may not contain a compound header that points to a lower level ofthe tree. When the compound header C is not empty, as in node 47, the node 47 is an INTERIOR or ROOT branch type node. At a leaf level of he tree structure, no child nodes or subtrees depend from the nodes and the respective compound headers are empty as depicted at nodes 34 and 35 where compound pointers 34b and 35b. respectively, do not point to another level ofthe tree. Compound headers give a subtree its structure by grouping together several pieces of related information In an initial IN IT type structure 40' as in FIG 6b, before any non-NIL values have been added, the map header 47a' of node 47' points to an entry with a depth value 89' of 0 and an indicator bit 90' set to the first or NIL condition T. which indicates there is no corresponding data item for this entry in the storage container 39' The first element, for example 42 in FIG. 4. of the compound structure is always empty at the root level, and is merely reserved so that the compound structure layout of the root level is similar to the vaπous sub-levels of the tree and in the event a new root level needs to be created when the root index block 47a of node 47 becomes overfull, as when the number of entπes 47c linked to root index block header 47a exceeds the predetermined full index block number 79 of five. The first element's 42 purpose in the deeper levels, other than the root level of the tree, is to be explained. The fourth element at the root level 41 is the pointers header 36 pointing to a list of pointer entπes 36a. The fifth element depicted in FIG. 4 is a storage container 39 in memory 8 or storage device 4 of the computer in which the actual data items of information are stored. Data items may be any form of data which can be stored by a computer system. Each of entries 36a corresponds to one ofthe index block entries 34c and 35c. Each entry in entries 36a contains a referencable index or a pointer to a data item in container 39. The final two elements 36 and 39 are separate from the tree structure 43 and may be implemented in various distinct methods. For example, in contradistinction to the described embodiment in FIG. 4, the two elements may be placed in a distinct compound pointer structure, which is not physically adjacent to the tree structure 43. The search keys 1420 and the data storage structure 40 are organized so the file system can simply and efficiently find requested items. As shown in FIG. 4b, storage container 39 contains data items, which are represented by search keys, in any order. A lexically ordered referencable index or pointer for each search key is placed in pointer entries 36a. Finally, each index or pointer addresses the location of a data item in container 39. A number of items to be inserted simultaneously are first sorted lexically within a buffer, then stored in any order into container 39. Storage of data values may be done by various methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Returning to tree structure 43, in order to take advantage of the indicators 90, the first element 66 of the compound structure at any level, such as level 64, except the root level 41, is a counts header to counts entries 66a. Each ofthe counts entries 66a. such as entries 32 or 33, is a count of non-NIL leaf entries having an indicator 90 set to F in the corresponding index block entries 34c and 35c within the subtree level 64 connected to node 47 through compound header 47b. Since there are two nodes 34 and 35 at level 64 in FIG. 4, the counts structure contains exactly two entries 32 and 33. The first entry 32 corresponds to the count of index block entries 34c. and the second entry 33 corresponds to the count of index block entries 35c. Since the first index block entries 34c include four non-NIL or F entries 80, 81 , 82, 83. the first entry 32 of the counter structure contains a count value of 4. Since the second index block entries 35c include four non-NIL entries 84, 86, 87, 88, the second entry 33 has a count value of 4. The non-NIL leaf entry count, such as entries 32 and 33, of each subtree of each level is incremented as each new non-NIL entry corresponding to a new data item is inserted into the corresponding index blocks and is decremented for each non-NIL entry deleted from the corresponding index block. While performing operations on the data storage structure 40 and descending the tree structure 43 from the root level 41 down, access information to the pointer entries 36a in the form of a pointers index, ps, is kept of the non-NIL or F leaf entries in preceding subtrees through the accumulation ofthe values in the first element of each subtree level, such as counts header 66 and entries 66a of level 64. In order to derive the corresponding pointers index of a stored data item, the preceding count from previous subtree levels is added to the count of non- NIL entries processed in the current leaf index block up to the entry corresponding to the key interval of the present search key. This index ps corresponds to the data item's pointer position in the pointers entries 36a. which is also the data item's lexical position. Now, with reference to FIG. 4a and 4b, an example of ho to determine the key interval range and data item of a search key is described. Further detail as to the steps to be performed in such a determination is described herein with reference to the program structure, particularly the Search Depths Procedure of FIG. 12. Assume a search is performed on the search key in binary form 10101000. The search key is represented by a sequence containing the ordinal value bit positions of the one bits in the search key, which starting from the left are values 1 , 3. and 5. In addition, a final value is added after the last in the sequence and is a value representing the maximal key length in bits plus 1 , which in this example is 9 since the key is one byte maximum. As a result, the sequence for search key 10101000 is 1, 3, 5 and 9. This search key sequence is compared to the depth values of the index blocks in the tree structure 43. First, the depth values 89 of index block entries 47c of root node 47 are compared to the elements of the search key sequence. A comparison of depth values 89 is iterated until an entry is found wherein the depth value is less than an ordinal value of the search key element o the sequence. In addition, an index to an entry in the current index block 47c and an index to the ordinal positions of the search key sequence element are maintained. The depth value of entry 30 is compared to the first ordinal element of the search key sequence. Since both are equal to 1 , the index to the search key sequence element is incremented. Then, since the depth value is not less than the ordinal value, the index to the entries in the index block is incremented. The depth value of the second entry 31 of index block 47c. 0, is compared to the second ordinal element ofthe sequence. 3. Since the two values are not equal and the depth value of entry 31 is less than ordinal value 3, i.e., (0<3), the search ends in this index block and. since this is a non-leaf node 47, the child index block coπesponding to entry 31 is obtained and searched. In Fig. 4, this is index block structure 35a and 35c. In addition, a pointers index to the pointers entries 36a is incremented by the value stored in entry 32 of counts entries 66a. This pointers index contains the sum of preceding non-NIL entries (illustrated by the F entries) in index block entries 34c. A count of non-NIL entries in the current leaf index block, initialized to one at the start ofthe search at any subtree level, of entries of 35c is maintained. Since the first entry 84 is non- NIL, the count of non-NIL entries is incremented by 1. The depth value of entry 84, which is 3, is compared to the second ordinal search value 3 of the search key sequence since the file system resumes search of the ordinal values of the sequence at the same location at which the search terminated in 47c of parent node 47. The depth value of entry 84. and the ordinal search key sequence element 3 are equal. Thus, the next entry 85 in 35c is accessed. In addition, since the ordinal value 3 equals the present bit position of the search key. the next ordinal value 5 of the search key sequence is obtained. Entry 85 is a NIL entry, so the count of non-NIL entries is not incremented. The depth value of entry 85 is then compared to the third ordinal value 5 of the search key sequence. Since the two are equal (5=5 ). the next entry 86 of index block entπes 35c is obtained and the next element of the ordinal value sequence. 9. is obtained Entry 86 is non-NIL, incrementing the count of non-NIL entπes to two In addition, the depth value 89 of entry 86 is compared to the ordinal value 9 Since the depth value 7 is less than the ordinal value 9 in the search key array (7<9) The search ends in this index block and. since this is a leaf node 34, the coπect entry coπesponding to leaf Z in FIG. 2b and Table 1 has been found At this point, the pointers index ps, which is equal to 4, is summed with 2 to result in 6. The 6 is used to select the sixth entry of pointers entπes 36a which is an 8. This sixth entry is a referencable index to the eighth data item in storage container 39. which corresponds to search key 10101000 in binary form as shown FIG. 4b Thus, the storage structure 40 avoids the need for storage of extraneous NIL (dummy) entries of the pnor art of FIGS. 3a and 3b replacing them with the T/F indicators and the count structure. The tree structure 43 and the search keys 1420, along with the entπes 66a keeping count of the number of indicator bits at the leaf level set to F, are used to keep an index to the pointers entπes 36a The pointers entnes 36a then compπses an index to the items stored in the storage container 39 Moreover, since the pointers header 36 and pointer entries 36a are distinct from the remainder of the tree structure 43 and store referencable indices to the keys 1420 in lexicographic order, a search key or data item can be accessed in its lexical order without using the tree structure 43 at all. By knowing the lexical position of the data item to be located, the data item can be located by accessing the entπes 36a alone. To build the C 0 -tree of the present invention, an INIT type structure is created as shown in FIG. 6b. Individual search keys are then inserted in the method of the program structure described below When an index block is full, the block is split into two parts in the manner described below. Thus, building the C 0 -tree data storage structure of the prefeπed embodiment is a matter of iterative processing of the stoπng oi ~ indexing information and node and index block splitting methods used for enteπng new data items or keys in lexicographic order into an established Cø-tree of the prefeπed embodiment. C) Program Structure of Storage and Retrieval of Keys in the Compact 0-Complete Tree Representation. The methods of sequentially processing a number of search keys within the tree structure to perform a predefined function on each search key, a method for locating a search key within the tree structure, a method for stoπng and indexing information for each search key within the tree structure, and splitting an index block of the present invention will now be described. The method for sequentially processing a number of search keys compπses searching through the data storage structure for the index block corresponding to each search key, performing a predefined function such as a search or inserting search keys to be indexed by the tree structure, splitting index blocks when the number of entπes in each block surpasses a predetermined full number or becomes greater than a large maximum number, and processing an empty string within the search keys to be inserted within the tree structure. The computer program structure o the C 0 -tree structure is illustrated diagrammatically in the flow diagrams of FIGS. 7-19. A summary of the macro definitions used throughout the program structure is presented in Table 3 wherein is indicated the macro name and a brief description. Similarly, a summary of the flow diagrams of FIGS. 7-19 is presented in Table 2 wherein is indicated the flow diagram reference and its inputs, variables and outputs. Each of the procedures will now be described with reference to Table 2 and Table 3. For convenience, blocks to perform the steps to be described with reference to FIGS. 7- 19 are in parenthesis. 1) Sequential Processing Procedure FIG. 7 illustrates a Sequential Processing Procedure wherein a predefined function is performed on a buffer within memory 8 (FIG. 1 b) of lexically sorted search keys. The program initially fetches a number of search keys and lexically sorts them within the buffer. Then, the following described steps are performed. The computer under the program control fetches from the storage container 39 the stored key associated with the first entry of the pointers entries 36a pointed to by pointers header 36 (100). The stored key is checked to see if it is empty (102). This step is part of empty string processing routine and checks to see whether the first entry of pointers entries 36a previously indexed an empty string data item. If the stored key is empty, an initial index ps to the pointers entries 36a that is a sum of non-NIL entries in the tree structure is set equal to 1 to indicate that an empty string is present within pointers entries 36a (104). If the key is not empty, the initial index value ps is set equai to 0 (106). A search key K is fetched from the buffer ( 108). The search key is then processed to see if it is empty (i.e., an empty string) in order to determine whether an empty string is to be added to storage container 39 and added to pointers entries 36a (1 10). If the search key is not empty, initialization of the variables will occur. Trailing variable di, which stores the depth value of the previous entry when descending from an INTERIOR index block to a subtree branch, and a variable of the depth dj of the bounding node in the present index block are initialized to 0. The variable bK which references the current and terminating bit position of the present search key being processed by the database system is initialized to 1 (1 12). The actual predefined function to be performed is determined by examining the flag LOADING (114). If LOADING is indicated, then the system sequentially processes an inserting function for storing the indexing information for each search key, and a node type check is done to see if the present node is a ROOT type or an INIT type structure (1 16). If the system is not loading.- then a sequential search is performed in order to locate the key interval coπesponding to the present search key, and a node type check is done to see whether the node is a ROOT type or INIT type (1 18). If loading and the node is ROOT type, the Branch Insert Procedure ( 120) is performed. If the node is INIT type. Leaf Insert Procedure (122) is performed. If the step 1 18 indicates the node is a ROOT type, then a Branch Search Procedure is performed (124). If during step 126 the node at the top ofthe tree 43 is an INIT type, then Leaf Search Procedure is performed (126). After performing any of 120, 1 2. 124, 126 where the tree 43 may have been altered. NODE OVERFULL check is then done to see whether the number of entries in the cuπent index block is larger than the predetermined full index block number 79 (FIG. 4) allowed (128). If the number of current entries is larger than the full index block number, then the Split Root Procedure to be described (130) is performed. If it is not. the program steps to block 140 described herein. Returning to step 1 10, if key K is empty and the stored key Ki referenced by entry p[l] is empty, then further empty string processing transpires and a check is done to see if the index to the pointers entries 36a. ps, is equal to one as established above ( 132). If ps is 0. then the system knows that the check performed in step 102 did not find an empty string stored in storage container 39. A check is performed to see whether LOADING is true and a loading request ( 134) is being performed on the file system. If true, loading of search keys into the tree structure is being performed and the index to the pointers entries 36a, ps, is set to 1 to indicate the addition of an item (i.e., the addition of the empty string) (136). At this point, it has been determined that the search key is empty and that a loading request is being performed. Therefore, the key is an empty string. An element is inserted at the first entry linked to pointers header 36a and the first position of the pointers vector p[ l] is set to the address of the key in the storage container 39 (138). Finally, a determination of any more keys is made ( 140) to see if more search keys are to be analyzed from the buffer of memory 8. If so. the loop to step 108 is followed. If no more search keys are to be analyzed, the Sequential Processing Procedure is exited ( 199). 2) Leaf Search Procedure The Leaf Search Procedure, which is called by the Sequential Processing Procedure or the Branch Search Procedure, is illustrated in FIG. 8. This portion of the program structure finds an entry within the tree structure with a key interval which coπesponds to the present search key and, thus, locates the search key within the tree structure if it has been previously indexed. The following described steps are performed. The variables j and c are initialized to 1, and d' is set equal to dj, the depth ofthe bounding node (200). The Search Depths Procedure to be described locates the entry in the present index block having a key interval coπesponding to the present search key (202). A determination is then made to see whether the indicator of the located entry ej is a NIL indicator (i.e., indicator 90 is T) (204). If the entry ej is a NIL entrv, then the present search kev is not found within the tree structure (206) If the entry is non-NIL (1 e . indicator 90 is F), then the stored kev corresponding to entry ej is fetched into Ki from the storage container 39 bv using the entrv p[c+ps] of the pointers entπes 36a indexed by the summed count c+ps of non-NIL entπes (208) The summed count provides the correct location or index in the pointers entπes 36a since thε sum of non-NIL entπes in previous mdex blocks ps and the count c of non-NIL entπes in the cuπent index block fetched by the Search Depths Procedure is maintained By adding the two v alues. the element of the pointers entπes 36a associated with entry ej is found Next, the fetched key Ki is compared to the search key K to see whether the search key is the same alue as the key corresponding to leaf entry ej (210) If the two keys are not equal NE. the search kev K was not found and does not exist within the tree structure (212) If they are equal, the appropπate leaf entry and kev K were found ι214) The Bulk Process Procedure, to be descnbed, is then performed in order to access the next search key and determme the distinction bit b' between the present search kev and the next kev within the buffer to process (216) A determination is then made as to whether the next search kev to be processed is included in the kev interval range of the cuπent index block (218). i e d'<b' where d' is established or assigned at the initialization of this procedure If the next search key is within the key interval range of the cuπent index block, the Reset bK Function is performed, where bK is the present key bit position at which the search for the next search key ts to be resumed (220) By recalling the key bit position at which a search terminated at the end of each search or insert procedure, the prefeπed embodiment is able to determine the appropπate kev bit at which to resume processing the search of the next search key since the plurality of kev s are processed in the lexical order of the values If the present key is not included in the key interval range of the current index block, there is a return to the routine which called the present iteration of the Leaf Search Procedure w ith the appropπate v alues of the distinction bit b and kev bit position bK retained (299) 3) Leaf Insert Procedure If a loading request is being performed in step 1 14. then the new keys trom the buffer of sorted keys which did not previously exist in the storage device 4 are added individually to the data storage structure The Leaf Insert Procedure is illustrated in FIG 9 and inserts each new search key by determining its correct placement and stoπng the index information of the key The steps ofthe Leaf Insert Procedure are descnbed below The variables of the procedure f=0, j=l and d'=dj (the bounding depth) are initialized (300) The Search Depth Procedure is performed to locate the entry whose kev interval includes the present search key (302) A check is then done to see whether the entrv ej located by the Search Depth Procedure is a NIL entry, having a T indicator 90 (304) If the entry is a NIL entry, then the point of insertion entry is found. The variables c and n are incremented in order to reflect the addition of the new entry to be inserted as a non-NIL entry and in order to reflect the newly inserted pointer to the key (306). An element is inserted in pointers entries 36a and is assigned the address of the key and its referenced data item (308) which are stored in the storage container 39. The indicator of the entry ej is changed from NIL (T) to non-NIL (F) to reflect the association of the entry with a storage element in the storage container 39 and ofthe pointers entries 36a (3 10). If during step 304 the entry is not a NIL entry, a key addressed by the pointers entries 36a element p[c+ps] is fetched and loaded into Ki ( 12). The present key K is compared with the fetched key Ki to see if they are equal (i.e.. in order to determine if the present key already exists in the storage container 39 (314). If they are equal, the Bulk Process Procedure is performed in order to determine if the next key to be processed is within the key interval ofthe cuπent index block (316). If the present key and the fetched key are not equal, the count n of new entries added to pointers entries 36a is incremented since the present key did not exist (318). The Add Depths Procedure to be described, is then performed in order to add any dummy entries and determine the coπect placement of the new entry. The routine returns a flag f which denotes whether the present key being processed is greater than or equal to the fetched key Ki (320) and indicates the position or index in pointers entries 36a. An element is inserted into pointers entries 36a and is assigned the address of the key and its referenced data item in the conect indexed placement corresponding to the sum of the number ps of non-NIL entries in the preceding subtrees the number c of non-NIL entries of the present index block, and the value of the flag f (322). The Bulk Process Routine is then performed returning b', the distinction bit (324). Then, a check is done to see whether the number of entπes in the present index block is over MAX, greater than the maximum allowed. The maximum is set at a very high threshold much greater than the predetermined full index block number 79 for entπes of an index block, e.g., five in FIG. 4 (326). If the number of entries in the present index block is not larger than the maximum, a determination is made as to whether d' is less than b' indicating that the next key to be processed. fetched during the Bulk Process Routine, is within the key interval range of the present index block (328). If so, a Reset bK Procedure is performed (336) before returning to step 302. Regardless, the procedure eventually returns to the calling procedure with the value of the distinction bit b', the present key bit position bK. and the number of new elements in the pointers entries 36a (399). 4) Branch Search Procedure If the Branch Search Procedure of FIG. 10 is called from the Sequential Processing Procedure of FIG. 7, then the following steps are performed in searching through branches ofthe Cø-tree data storage structure in order to locate the coπect LEAF level and index block to perform the Leaf Search Procedure. First, the variables j=c=l and d'=dj, where dj is the bounding depth, are initialized (400). The Search Depths Procedure is performed to locate the appropriate entry in the present INTERIOR branch index block with a key interval containing the present key (402). Since the system is at a branch level, the entry is associated with a subtree ofthe tree structure. The located child node coπesponding to entry ej ofthe branch is fetched (404). and then checked to determine the node type (406). If the node tvpe of the child block is a LEAF, the Leaf Search Procedure is performed (408). If the node type is a non-leaf, i.e., an INTERIOR type, the Branch Search Procedure is performed (410). The procedure determines whether the present key is within the key interval range ofthe present index block, i.e., d'<b' (414). If so, the Reset bK Procedure to be described is performed (416) and a loop to step 402 is executed. If not, then the program returns the value of the distinction bit b' and the key bit position bK to the Sequential Processing Procedure and the present iteration of Branch Search is complete (499). 5) Branch Insert Procedure If the predefined function to be performed on the sorted search keys in the buffer is a load and the index block type of Step 1 16 of the Sequential Processing Procedure is determined to be a ROOT index block, then the Branch Insert Procedure is called in Step 120 and the steps, as shown in FIG. 11, are performed as follows until the leaf index block containing the key interval ofthe present search key is located. The index to the entry whose interval contains the cuπent search key is set to 1, i.e., j=c=l, the present bounding depth value is assigned, i.e.. d'=dj, and the count of new keys associated with the parent index block is set to zero, i.e., cn=0 (500). Then, the Search Depth Procedure is performed to locate the entry having the present key in its key interval (501). This procedure returns the key bit position to resume search processing of the search key and the index to the entry within the cuπent index block whose key interval contains the search key. Since the computer is performing a Branch Insert Procedure, the index block type of he present index block is either INTERIOR or ROOT. After locating the entry with the present key in the entry's key interval, the trailing depth variable, di. is updated if the index j to the depths entry of the present index block is greater than 1 (502). The program realizes that the located entry is not the first entry ofthe present INTERIOR type index block, and the trailing variable di is updated to the depth value ofthe entry ej-1 previous to the located entry in the present index block (503). The variable dj is then set to the depth ofthe entry ej (504). At this time, the indexed child node, jth chiid in the subtree V ofthe current index block, corresponding to the located entry is fetched including the index block depth entries and the subtree of the child index block (505). This step returns an updated sum of non-NIL entries ps with which to index the pointers entries 36a. More specifically, since the first element, the counts structure, of the compound structure of the present level of the tree contains the non-NIL entry count information for preceding subtrees, the elements of the counts entries up to the value of j are summed together and added to the prior sum of the count of non-NIL entries to arrive at the new sum (506). A determination is then made ofthe type of the fetched child node from Step 504 (507). If the child node is a LEAF, then the Leaf Insert Procedure is performed (508). If the child node is an INTERIOR, then the Branch Insert Procedure is performed (510). After processing is returned from Branch Insert or Leaf Insert, the counts entry c[j] corresponding to the present index block is set to its previous value plus the number n of new keys associated with entries of the child index block (514). The count cn of new keys associated with the parent index block is incremented by the count n of new keys associated with entries ofthe child index block (514). The procedure then determines whether to split the present child node by determimng whether the index block is overfull (520). If the index block entries have surpassed the predetermined full index block number of entries allowed per index block then the Split Child Procedure, to be described. is performed (522). A check is done to see whether the present key is within the key interval range of the present index block (524), i.e.. d'<b'. If so, the distinction bit b' is set to zero which terminates inserting up to the root level because a Split Child occuπed (526). In either case, the number n of new keys associated with entries ofthe child index block is set as a return variable to the count of new keys cn for the cuπent index block (536). If the index block is not overfull, a check is done to see whether the present key is within the key interval range of the present index block, i.e., d' < b' (534). If the present key is within the key interval of the present index block, the Reset bK Procedure is performed (538). Regardless, the procedure returns to the Calling Procedure with the count of the new keys n added to the child index block, the distinction bit b'. and the key bit position bK (599). 6) Search Depth Procedure As depicted in FIG. 12, every time a search or insert is performed on the Cø-tree data storage structure, the Search Depths Procedure is performed to locate the entry within the present index block wherein the key interval coπesponds to the present key. Index variable k is set to 1 and the input variable, count c of non-NIL entries, is decremented (600). The procedure gets the ordinal element b[k] ofthe present search key which is at least as large as the present key bit position bK to begin searching the present key (602). The ordinal elements are comprised of the values ofthe 1-bit positions in the two letter alphabet of zeros and ones in the cuπent search key being analyzed. A determination is then made as to whether the present entry ej is a NIL entry (604). If the entry is not a NIL entry, the count c of non-NIL entries ofthe present index block is incremented (606). The prefeπed embodiment then determines whether a depth value dj of entry ej of the present index block is equal to (610) and. if not equal, less than (612) the present ordinal element b[k]. If equal, then index variable k is incremented (616). If not equal and greater than, then the index variable j to the depth entries of the index block is incremented (618). If it is less than, then the present key bit position bK is set equal to the present ordinal value b[K].(614). Finally, the procedure returns to the calling routine (699). The values of the index variable j used to index the depth entry coπesponding to the key interval of the present key K, the count c of non- NIL entries of the present index block which is used to access the pointers entries 36a, and the determination ofthe present key bit position bK which allows the file system to recall the present key bit position ofthe search keys being processed is returned. 6.a) Multilevel Search Now that the pertinent program structure to search for a search key has been described, a more detailed example of how to determine the key interval range and data item of a search key of a Cø-tree that is comprised of more than two levels is described with reference to FIG. 5 and Table 4. The data storage structure 1540 is comprised of three levels: ROOT level. INTERIOR level, and LEAF level. Certain items of information within structure 1540 that do not pertain to this example have not been depicted in FIG. 5 and have been replaced with the letter X. Thus, index block entries of ROOT level 1541 and INTERIOR level 1564 have an X depicting the present indicator bit since the indicator bit only indicates the presence of a coπesponding data item at a LEAF level structures, such as 1570. Moreover, the depth values of each of the index block entries at the LEAF level, other than entries 1575c, are shown as an X since they are not utilized by the present search example. Finally, the contents of pointers entries 1536a and storage container 1539 have not been specifically described as they are not necessary to the present example. Assume a search is performed on the search key 1001 1001 as shown in Table 4. The search key is represented by a sequence b[k] containing the ordinal value bit positions of the one bits in the search key, which starting from the left are 1 , 4, 5 and 8. As in the previous example described. a final value, 9, is added after the last in the sequence. Therefore, the sequence is b[k] = <1, 4, 5, 8, 9>. First, the depth values 89 of index entries 1547c of root node 1547 are compared to the elements ofthe search key sequence. An index j to the index block entries 1547 is maintained, and an index k to the ordinal position of the search key sequence is maintained. At step 1 of Table 4, the depth value d[j] of entry 1530 is compared to the first ordinal element b[k] ofthe search key sequence, which is equal to 1. Since the depth value d[j] is greater than the ordinal element b[k], the index j to the index block entries 1547c is incremented. At step 2 of Table 4. the depth value d[j] ofthe second entry 1531 of index block entries 1547c is compared to the first ordinal element b[k]. Since they are equal, the index k to the search key sequence is incremented. Then, the index j to the index block entries 1547c is incremented. Since j=3 and k=2 at step 3. the depth value d[j] of the third entrv 1532 is compared to the second ordinal element b[k] Since the two values are not equal and the depth values djj] of entry 1532 is less than ordinal value b[k] (1 e , 0 < 4), the search ends in this index block headed by 1547a Since this is a non-leaf node 1547, the child node and index block coπesponding to entry 1532 are obtained and searched In FIG 5, this is node 1535 ith subtree 1570 index block header 1535a ana entπes 1535c In addition, the terminating kev bit position bK is set to the presently indexed ordinal value b[k] (I e. bK = 4) in order that the computer system may easily and efficiently resume the search procedure at the child index block In addition, as shown in step 4 of Table 4 a pointer index ps to the pointers structure 1536 is incremented by the values stored in entπes 1557 and 1558 of counts header 1556 of INTERIOR levei 1564 since these entπes precede the third entry which is the subtree to be searched This pointers index ps contains the sum of preceding non-NIL entπes (illustrated by the F entπes) in the previous siblings of this node 1535 Thus, entry 1557 coπesponds to non- NIL leaf entπes depending from the compound header C of node 1537 and entrv 1558 coπesponds to the non-NIL leaf entries depending from the compound header C of node 1538 The pointers index ps is therefore presently equal to fourteen, since eight non-NIL leaf entnes depend from node 1537 and six non-NIL leaf entπes depend from node 1538 At step 5 of Table 4, the index vanable j is initialized to one The first depth value d[j] of entnes 1535c is compared to the second ordinal search value b[k] (The second ordinal value, which equals four, is used since the computer system at step 602 in FIG 12 increments the index k and obtains the ordinal element in the search key sequence greater than or equal to the terminating key bit position. bK, which was set to four when search of the parent node 1547 ended ) Smce d_] equals b[k], the index k to the search key sequence is incremented Then, the index j to the entnes 1535c is incremented t step 6, the depth value d_ ] of the second entry 1554 of index block entnes 1535c is then corrrDared to the third ordinal element b[K], which is equal to fiv e Since the depth value d ] is less than the ordinal element b[K], (i e , 2 < 5), the search ends in this index block headed by 1535a Since node 1535 is an INTERIOR node, the child node and index block corresponding to entry 1535 is obtained In FIG 5, this is node 1575 The terminating key bit position bK is set to the presently indexed ordinal value b[k] (I e , bK = 5) Then the pointer index ps is updated at step 7 to additionally contain the number of non-NIL entπes in previous siblings of node 1575 Since at a LEAT level each count entry, such as entry 1561 linked to count header 1560, corresponds to the number of non-NIL entπes in a respective node in a LEAF structure 1570. the first counts entry 1561 coπesponds to the number of non-NIL entnes the first node 1576 of structure 1570 The pointer index ps is therefore equal to nineteen, its previous v alue fourteen plus the value found in counts entry 1561. five The index variable j and k are again set to one. The computer system increments the index k and obtains the ordinal element b[k] greater than or equal to the terminating key bit position bK. Thus, it obtains the third element which is equal to 5. A count index c of non-NIL entnes. initialized to zero at the start of the search of entries 1575c, is maintained. Since the ordinal element b[k] is less than the depth value d[j] of entry 1580 of index block entries 1575c at step 8, the index j to the entries 1575c is incremented. An index c to the entries 1575c is not incremented since entry ej is a NIL entry. At step 9, the ordinal element is again less than the depth value d[j] of entry 1581. Thus, index j is incremented. The index c is incremented since entry ej is a non-NIL entry. The depth value d[j] of the non-NIL entry 1582 is equal to the present ordinal element b[k] in step 10. Therefore, index k is also incremented. In step 1 1, the depth value djj] ofthe fourth non-NIL entry 1583 is compared to the third ordinal element b[K]. Again, the values are equal (i.e., 8 = 8). Indices k, j and c are incremented. Finally, the depth value d(j] of the fifth entry 1584 is compared to the fourth ordinal element b[k]. The depth value ά_] is less than the ordinal element b[k] (i.e., 6 < 9) and. since the LEAF level is presently being searched, the coπect entry coπesponding to search key 1001 1001 has been found. At this point, the pointers index ps is incremented by the counts index c (i.e., 19 + 4 = 23) at step 13. This provides the total of non-NIL entries previous to and including entry 1584. The 23 is used to select the twenty-third entry in the pointers entries 1536a which contains the referencable index, or pointer, to the coπect data item in storage container 1539. 7) Bulk Process Procedure The Bulk Process Procedure which obtains the next key to process within the buffer refeπed to in FIGS. 8 and 9 is depicted in FIG. 13. Its purpose is to fetch the next key Ki to process in the buffer in memory 8 and determine the distinction bit between the previous key K and the next key Ki. The procedure determines whether there are more keys within the buffer (700). If more keys within the buffer exist, the next key in the buffer to process in sequence is fetched into Ki (702). Next, a determination as to whether the prior key K and the present key Ki to be processed are equal (704). Since the search keys to be sequentially processed are sorted in the buffer in lexical order, the prefeπed embodiment is able to determine when a duplicate key exists and not process this search key. Therefore, if this step determines that the two keys are equal, a feedback loop to step 700 is performed. If the two keys are determined to not be equal NE. then the distinction bit of the two keys is found (706). The prefeπed embodiment then establishes the present key K; in other words, the program moves the new key Ki to be processed into the present key variable K (708). Iflhere are no more keys to be processed within the present buffer, then the distinction bit b' is set to 0, which terminates processing to the ROOT level (710). By doing this, the procedures of the program structure previousiv descnbed can determine that there are no more keys to process within the buffer, in particular when determining whether the next key is within the key mterval of the present index block in steps 218, 328, 414. 524. and 534 Finalh, the procedure returns to its calling routine with the value of the distinction bit b' and the new key K (799) 8) Reset bK Function Now, the Reset bK Function referenced in FIGS 8, 9, 10 and 1 1 is illustrated in detail in FIG 14 This procedure determines the key bit position bK to resume sequential processing for the present search key The procedure is able to determine the key bit position since the search keys processed in sequence are in lexical order within the buffer This property of an ordered sequence allows the prefeπed embodiment to function as designed The procedure first determines whether the present index j to the cuπent entry ej is the first in the cuπent index block (800) If so. the distinction bit b' is compared to the present key bit position bK (802) If it is at least as large as the key bit position, the key bit position bK is compared to the trailing vanable di and the distinction bit b' (804) A companson of the distinction bit b to the trailing vanable di an input vanable to the Reset bK Function, and the present key bit position bK is made (806) If the trailing vanable di is less than the distinction bit b' which is less than cuπent key bit position bK. then key bit position bK is set to the trailing vanable di plus 1 (808) If step 800 determines that the present index j to the depths entnes is not 1 NE. a determination is made as to whether the distinction bit b' is less than the present key bit position bK (810) If so. the key bit position bK is set to the value of the distinction bit b' (812) Regardless, the value of the key bit position bK is returned (899) 9) Add Depth Procedure The Add Depth Procedure, which is called by step 320 from the Leaf Insert Procedure, is illustrated m FIG 15 Its purpose is to determine the coπect placement of the index entry tor stoπng the indexing information of a present search key relative to the located entry wherein the search key belongs in the key interval defined by the entry by adding an entry or entπes to the current mdex block This occurs since the present search key and a pnor index key both belong in the same key interval To determine the coπect placement, the program must determine the depth of the leaf node associated with the located entry and the previously indexed key in a conceptual 0- complete tree, such as the tree 1430 represented in FIG. 2b This is not recorded in the Cø-tree representation Only the depths of bounding nodes are recorded m the entnes The depth of the leaf node in a conceptual 0-complete tree, as depicted in FIG 2b, can be determined by the definition of a compact 0-complete tree The procedure first determines whether the cuπent entry ej is the first in an index block (900) If not. then the depth of the present entry, d[j], in the mdex block is compared to the depth ofthe pnor entry, dfj-1] (902) Based on this companson. if the depth of he located entry is less than LT the depth ot the prior entrv. then the depth li of the leaf node in the conceptual 0-complete tree is set equal to the depth of the prev IOUS entrv in the mdex block, d_-\] (908) If the depth of the located entrv is greater than GT the depth of the leaf node in the conceptual 0-complete tree is set equal to the depth ofthe present entrv d[ j ] (906) Finallv, if the located entrv is the first in the index block, the actual depth li o the leaf in the conceptual 0-complete tree is set equal to the present trailing v anable di. which is the depth value of the previous entry ofthe parent index block (904) Next, an index vanable I is set to the cuπent index j to the index block entπes and the distinction bit b' of the present key K being processed and the key Ki indexed bv the located entry is determined (910) If the distinction bit b' is less than the depth li of the leaf in the conceptual 0-complete tree (912). then the index entry to be added follows the located entry in the pre-order sequence More entπes must be added to the present tree structure in order to preserve a distinction between the access paths of the present search key and the key of the located entry To ensure that the conceptual tree is still 0-complete, it may be necessary to add NIL entπes wherein the indicator bit is set to true The ordinal element b[k] of the search key is obtained that is greater than the depth li of the leaf in the conceptual 0-complete tree plus one The presently indexed ordinal element b[k] is then compared to the distinction bit b' (918) If it is less than LT the distinction bit b\ an entry is inserted to the cuπent index block before the presently indexed entry ei (924) The depth value ofthe newly inserted indexed entry ei is set to the cuπently indexed ordinal position b[k] ofthe cuπent search key, and the indicator ofthe presently indexed entry ei is set to T signifying a NIL entry (932) The index k to the ordinal elements ofthe cuπent search kev is incremented (938) Next an mdex i to the entry of the present index block is incremented (940) and the loop continues at step 918 If the present key K being processed is greater than the kev Ki previously indexed by the located entry (920), the flag f is set to 1 (922) If it is less than the flag f is set to zero (926) An entry is then inserted before the presentlv indexed entrv ei (930) The depth value ofthe newly inserted indexed entry ei is set to the distinction bit b' and the indicator ofthe presently indexed entry is set to non-NIL or (F) (934) and the procedure returns the flag f to the calling routine (999) 10) Split Routines The method for splitting an index block will now be descnbed with particular reference to splitting an index block after determining the number of entnes in the index block is greater than a predetermined full index block number and splitting a block after determining that the number of entnes is greater than a threshold maximum number 10a) Split Root Procedure The Split Root Procedure is illustrated in FIG 16a and an example of a root node being split is depicted in FIG 16b and 16c The example in FIG 16b and 16c will be further detailed with reference to the descnption of the Procedure in FIG 16a The purpose of this procedure is to split the root node and index block when it has reached the predetermined full index block number or when the program determines that an index block has achieved the maximum threshold number of entπes TH. The steps of the procedure are as follows. The old root node R illustrated in FIG. 16b is split to create the new root node R' comprising index block I' and subtree V in FIG. 16c. The old root node depends from the subtree V of the new root node. A new root node I', V is created ( 1000) and the Minimum Depth Procedure of FIG. 18 to be described is called (1002) in order to determine the depth entry having the minimum depth value in the root index block I to be split. The depth value of the first entry el ofthe new root index block I' is set to the determined minimum depth value dmin ofthe first index block I ofthe old root node R (1004), and the depth value of the second entry e2 is set to 0 which is the last depth value of the index block I of the old root R. as in FIG. 16b ( 1006). The compound subtree V of the new root R' is linked to the old root node R that is being split (1008). The sum of non-NIL entries depending from each respective subtree is determined and placed in the entries of the counts structure c, wherein the first entry c[l] coπesponds to the first subtree V0 (1010) and the second entry c[2] coπesponds to the second subtree VI (1012). However, if the old root node R is now a leaf level, then the counts structure entries c[l ] and c[2] simply contain the number of non-NIL entries in their respective index blocks I Q and I, . The procedure Split Node to be described splits the old root node I, V into two nodes and two index blocks returning a value, n. equal to the number of entries in the second index block I, (1014). If the child or second index block I [ of the two index blocks depending from the new root node R' is overfull, i.e., n>TH (1016), then obtain the second child node (1018), and split this child ( 1020). If the first index block I 0 depending from the compound subtree V of the new root node R' is overfull (1022), then the first child node is obtained ( 1024) and split (1026). Regardless, the procedure is exited ( 1099). As shown in FIG. 16b and 16c. the old root node R which previously had one index block I has now been split into two index blocks I 0 and l j with respective subtrees V and V | . 10b) Split Child Procedure The Split Child Procedure is called from the Split Root Procedure in blocks 1020, 1026, the Split Child Procedure in block 1216 and the Branch Insert Procedure in block 522 when a index block is determined to be overfull. The Procedure is illustrated in FIG. 17. The Procedure continues to split nodes and their respective index blocks as long as an index block of a child node is determined to be overfull. The steps of the procedure are as follows. A count ofthe number of splits of index blocks SPLITS is initialized to zero (1200). The minimum depth of the present index block is determined by calling the Minimum Depth Procedure to be described herein (1202). Next, the present index block lj of the jth node is split into two- index blocks lj and Ij+1 and is split into two subtrees Vj and Vj+1, by the Split Node Procedure described herein (1204). The count of the number of SPLITS is incremented (1206). Next, an entry is inserted before the entry ej in the parent index block of the index block lj presently being split (1208). The entry ej of the parent index block of the cuπent index block lj being split has its depth value set to the minimum depth dmin of the current index block being split (determined by the Minimum Depth Procedure) and its indicator set to non-NIL. F (1210). A determination is made as to whether the index imin of the entry after which the split occuπed in the cuπent index block is greater than the predetermined overfull index block number TH (1212). If so, then the jth child, or first of the two nodes created by the present split, is fetched from subtree V (1214) and split ( 1216). The count of the number of splits is incremented by the number of SPLITS Is in the jth child index block that occuπed during the call to split child at step 1216 (1218), as is the index j ofthe child to split (1220). A determination is then made as to whether the number of entries n in the newly created block of the split is less than the full index block number TH (1222). If it is not, then the index j of the node and respective index block to be split is incremented (1226) and the new jth child node to be split is fetched from the parent subtree of the previously split node and respective index block (1228). Otherwise, if the number of entnes n in the new index block created after the split is less than the full index number TH. the procedure returns to its calling routine with the number of splits, n ( 1299). 10c) Minimum Depth Procedure The Mmimum Depth Procedure, used by the Split Root Procedure in blocks 1102 and the Split Child Procedure in block 1202, for determining the index of the entry to split after by obtaining the minimum depth value within an index block is performed by the steps illustrated in FIG. 18. First, the count cnt of non-NIL entries preceding and including the present entry and the count c of non-NIL entries preceding and including the minimum depth entry are initialized. The index imin of the minimum entry and the index j to the index block are also set to 1. The index ilast of he last entry in the index block is set to the number of entries in the present index block. Finally, the index imid of the midpoint of the depth values of the entries of the cuπent index block is set to the halfway point iIast/2 ofthe index ilast ofthe last entry (1300). The depth value dmin of the minimum depth entry is set to the maximum length of a search key plus one M+l (1302). The depth dj of the present entry is assigned (1304). Then, a determination is made as to whether the indicator ofthe present entry ej is T coπesponding to a NIL entry (1306). If not. the count cnt of non-NIL entries preceding and including the present entry is incremented (1308). A determination is made as to whether the depth value dj of he present entry is less than the value of the minimum depth entry dmin (1310). If it is less than, a further determination is made as to whether the index j to the cuπent index block is greater than the index imid of the midpoint of depth values of the present index block (1312). If the index j to the cuπent index block is less than or equal to the index imid of the midpoint, then the index imin ofthe minimum entry is set to the index j of the cuπent entry ej and the count c of non-NIL entries preceding and including the minimum depth entry of the present index block is set to the count cnt of non-NIL entries preceding and including the present entry (1318). The depth value dmin of the minimum depth entry is set to the present depth value dj ( 1320). and the index j to the entry in the cuπent index block is incremented (1322). If the index j to the cuπent index block entry is greater than the index imid of the midpoint in the cuπent index block at step 1312, then a determination is made as to whether the index imid ofthe midpoint minus the index imin of the minimum entry is at least as large as the index j ofthe current index block entry minus the index imid of the midpoint ofthe depth values ofthe current index block (1314). If it is at least as large as. then the index imin of the minimum entry is set to the index j to the cuπent index block entry, and the count c of non-NIL entries preceding and including the nrinimum depth entry is set equal to the count cnt of non-NIL entries preceding and including the present entry ej (1316). A determination is made following step 1322 as to whether the index j to the cuπent index block entry is equal to the index ilast of the last entry in the present index block ( 1324). If it is less than, then the loop returns to step 1304. Regardless, the procedure returns to its calling routine with the count c of non-NIL entries preceding and including the minimum depth entry, the index imin ofthe minimum entry, and the value dmin of the minimum depth entry (1399). lOd) Split Node Procedure The Split Node Procedure called from the Split Root Procedure in block 1014 and the Split Child Procedure in block 1204 splits the present node and its respective index block at its minimum depth value. The procedure is illustrated in FIG. 19. Two nodes, each having one index block, will be created. The index block I of the first node includes the first entry of the split index block up to the minimum depth entry, and the index block Ij+1 of the second node includes the entry occurring after the minimum depth value up to the final entry of the index block split. A node Ij+I , Vj+ 1 is inserted in the present level after the index block lj and subtree Vj ofthe node to be split (1400). The newly created index block Ij+1 ofthe new node will contain entries from the index block lj to be split starting from the entry e jmjn+ | occurring after the minimum depth value up to the last entry e j|ast in the index block to be split (1402). The index block lj to be split will be updated to contain its previous first entry up to the entry e jmin containing the minimum depth value (1404). The number n of entries in the newly created index block Ij+1 is set to the index ilast of the number of entries in the present index block lj to be split minus the index imin of the minimum depth entry to split after (1406). The procedure then determines whether the node to be split is a LEAF type by checking the subtree Vj (1408). If it is not and the node type is INTERIOR, then the counts structure c including the counts elements in the subtree Vj of the node to be split is fetched (1410). The number cnt of non-NIL entries preceding and including the minimum depth entry is set equal to the summation of the first element of the counts structure c up to the element of the count structure indexed by the index imm of the entry to split after ( 1412) The count structure for the subtrees V j +1 ofthe newly created node contains the elements of the count structure of the node split indexed by the index ιmιn+1 of the entry to split after up to the index ilast of the last entry in the index block being split (1414). The subtrees of j+ 1 of the newly created node are set to the subtree elements of the split node indexed by the index ιmιn ι -1 of the entry to split after up to the i ndex ilast ofthe number of entnes in the index block lj of the presently split node ( 1416). The count structure associated with the subtree Vj of the split node is adjusted to include the first element through the element indexed by imin of the node to split at ( 1418 ) Moreover, the subtrees of the jth node of the split node are adjusted to include the elements indexed by the first element up to the index imm of the entry to split at ( 1420) The count structure in the present level ofthe node to be split is fetched (1422). An entry is inserted in the counts structure after the element indexed by the index j of the subtree to split ( 1424). This newly created element cfj+1 ] is assigned the count cfj] of non-NIL entnes in the preceding element of the counts structure minus the number cnt of non-NIL entπes preceding and including the minimum depth entry (1426) The element c(j] of the counts structure indexed by the index j o the subtree to split is assigned the number cnt of non-NIL entπes preceding and including the mimmum depth entry (1428) The procedure then returns the number n of entπes in the newly created index block ( 1499). The program structure of the prefened embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above , with reference to the relevant procedures. While the invention has been particularly shown and described as referenced to the embodiments thereof , it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in form and deta i l may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Table 1 Table 2 Procedure Inputs Variables Outputs Sequential p a vector P=p<| ι]> of pointers (p ; Ki search kev ot Processing is a pointer to a data item or a P[>] Procedure record, w ith key Ki, such that the value ot kev Ki is less than the ps sum of non- Fig 7 value ot kev Kι+1 , where i denotes NIL entries in the lexical position ofthe key Ki) previous index blocks and the I Index iroot) block of depth indicator ot an entries ot the C 0 -tπe storage empty string in structure Let ej=(dj, Nj) denote the stored data the jth entrv in an index block, in items (global which dj denotes the depth of the variable - not bounding node in a conceptual scoped) 0-complete tree and where Nj indicates a NIL indicator dr trailing variable ot present V Pointer to a subtree of index index block block 1 If V is empty, each ej m I is related to a leaf (data item or dj depth of record) Otherwise, V is a pointer bounding node to a structure consisting ot ( I ) a bK kev bit sequence of S = (lj, Vj) entries position of search coπesponding to each e| entrv and key being (2) a sequence C = c<(j]> of the processed number of non-NIL entries in each Vjth subtree K present search key buffer ot search keys flag loading request Leaf Search dj. depth of bounding node j index of entry b' distinction bit of Procedure e[] entnes for cuπent index block c number of non- previous key and Fig 8 NIL entries in present key bK. current bit position in key K cuπent index bK terminating bit K search key block preceding position in kev K and including b an arrav B = <b[K]> of sorted (where last iteration entrv ej of Search Depth 1 -bit positions in key K d' depth of concluded ps sum ot non-NIL entries in bounding node processing) previous siblings of this node Leaf insert di trailing variable j index of entries Procedure dj depth of bounding node c number of non- Fig 9 NIL entries in n count of new K search key cuπent index keys added to child e[] entnes for the current index block preceding index block block and including b'- distinction bit of entry ej bK cuπent bit position in key K. previous key and d' depth of present key b an aπav B = <b[k]> of sorted bounding node 1 -bit positions in key K bK terminating bit f flag indicating position in key~K n=0- count of new entries present search key ( where last iteration (pointers/keys) added to ρ[] follows previously of Search Depths ps: sum of non-NIL entries in indexed key concluded brevious siblings of this node Processing) Table 2 (continued) Procedure Inputs Variables Outputs Branch dj: depth of bounding node. j: index of entries. b': distinction bit of Search c: number of non- previous key and Procedure e[], V: index block entπes and present key. " subtree for current node. NIL entries in Fig. 10 cuπent index bK: terminating bit bK: current bit position in key K. block. position in key K K: search key. d': depth of (where last iteration b: an aπay B = <b[k]> of sorted bounding node. of Search Depths concluded 1 -bit positions in key K. di: depth of entrv processing). ps: sum of non-NIL entries in ej- 1. previous siblings of this node. dj: depth of entry ej- Branch Insert di: trailing variable. j: index of entry. bK: terminating key Procedure e[], V: index block entries and d': depth of bit position in K (where last iteration Fig. 1 1 subtree of cuπent node. bounding node. of Search Depths dj: depth of bounding node. n: count of new concluded keys added to processing). b: an aπay B = <b[k]> of sorted in child index block. 1 -bit positions in key .. n: count of new cn=0: count of keys added to child K: search key. new keys added to index block. bK: cuπent bit position in key K. p[ 1 for cuπent index block. b': distinction bit of ps: sum of non-NIL entries in previous key and previous siblings of this node. present key. Search Depth d: a sequence L=d <[]]> of depth k: index variable. bK: terminating key Procedure entries ofthe bounding nodes in a bit position in K 0-complete tree. (where last iteration Fig. 12 of Search Depths j: an index ofthe entry in sequence concluded). L at which to begin/resume the search at. j: index of entry ej b: an aπay B = <b[k]> of sorted whose interval contains key K. 1 -bit positions in key K. c: number of bK: key bit position to begin search from. Passed on recursive cali and non-NIL entries in reset for each new key. cuπent index block preceding and c: an integer ofthe number including ej. non-NIL entries in the cuπent index block preceding and including entry ej. Bulk Process K: search key just processed. Ki: next search K: new search key. Procedure key from buffer. b': distinction bit of Fig. 13 difference between the previous key and new kev. -JJ- Table 2 (continued) Table 2 (continued) Procedure Inputs Variables Outputs Minimum imid: index of imin: index of entry Depth midpoint entry in to split-after in ij. Procedure index block 1. dmin: minimum Fig. 18 imin: index of depth of entry e " j i,mm minimum entry. c: number of ilast: index of last non-NIL entries entrv in index preceding and block I. including e imin dmin: value of the minimum depth enfr y e imin cnt: count of non-NIL entries preceding and including entry e imin c: count of non-NIL entries preceding and including entry e imin Split Node j: index of subtree to split. c: structure of n: number of entries Procedure counts of non-NIL V: compound vector of index block in new entries in subtree 'J-* Fig. 19 containing (Ij, Vj). level V. Ij: index block to split. Vj: subtree for index block ij. imin: index of entry to split after. cnt: number of non-NIL entries preceding and including e jmjn ilast: index of last entrv of lj. Table 3 Macro Function NIL_ENTRY(d) create a non-NIL entry from depth value, d. ENTRY SNIL(e) TRUE if entry e is a non-NIL entry. DEPTH_ofENTRY(e) extract the depth, d, of entrv e. TABLE 4 Search Key = 10011001 b[K] = <!,4, 5, 8, 9>

Claims: 1 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A computer system having a storage means, a dynamic data storage structure for retrieval of stored data within the storage means, the storage structure comprising: a hierarchical tree structure stored in the storage means comprised of at least one level; and entries at least some of which are linked to the stored data and interconnected in said tree structure, each of said entries comprising a depth value element indexing such entry in said tree structure and a data present indicator, each indicator of said entries at one of said at υ least one level indicating a coπesponding data item included in said stored data. 2. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the tree structure further comprises a stored count of a number of said entries linked to said coπesponding data item in said stored data. 15 3. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the coπesponding data item in the stored data is retrieved with a search key, said search key referencing the coπesponding data item of the stored data wherein through the tree structure the depth value element of at least some of said 20 entries indexes a location for the data item indicated by said search key. 4. The computer system of claim 1 further comprising a pointers structure for linking to said data item each one of said entries having said present indicator that indicates that there is a presence of a coπesponding said data item in said stored data. 25 5. The computer system of claim 1 wherein the data storage structure further comprises at least one index block comprising at least one of said entries defining a key interval range in said tree structure. ™ 6. The computer system of claim 5 wherein said at least one index block comprises a root level said index block linked to at least one further said index block in the tree structure and wherein at least some of said entries in said further index block is linked to said coπesponding data item in said stored data. 5 7. The computer system of claim 6 wherein the data present indicator in at least one of said entries in said further index block indicates a presence of a coπesponding data item in the stored data. 8 The computer system of claim 6 wherein the root index block compπses at least one said entrv for each said further index block, the depth v alue element of each entry of the root index block representing the minimum value represented bv any of the depth value elements of the entπes in the coπesponding said further index block 9 The computer system ot claim 7 further comprising a count indicating the number of entnes in the further index block having a present indicator which indicates presence of a coπesponding data item in the stored data 10 The computer system of claim 5, wherein said tree structure is compπsed of at least one subtree compπsing at least one of said at least one index block 1 1. The computer system of claim 10 wherein each entry other than the entπes at the one of said at least one level is associated with one index block of one of said at least one subtree of the tree structure 12 In a computer compnsing a storage means, a tree structure for retπeval of stored data within the storage means and compnsmg at least one index block having at least one entry that each compnse a depth value and a data present indicator, each index block defining a key mterval. a method for sequentially processing a plurality of search keys, compπsing the steps of fetching the plurality of search keys into a buffer in the computer, sorting the plurality of search keys in the buffer of the computer in lexical order, and processing in sequence each one ofthe plurality of search keys by determining a present index block, performing a predefined function, and determinmg whether another of the plurality of search keys following the one search key in the buffer is withm the kev interval ofthe present index block 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of processing in sequence further compπses the step of determining a key bit position for processing the another search key 14 The method of claim 12 wherein the step of performing a predefined function compπses the step of locating the one search key 15 The method of claim 12, wherein each entry defines another key interval, wherein the step of locating compπses the step of locating the another kev interv al within the tree structure coπesponding to the one search key 16 The method of claim 12 wherein the step of performing a predefined function compnses the step of inserting indexing information for the one search key within the tree structure 17 rhe method of claim 12 further compnsing the step of processing an emptv stπng 18 The method of claim 17 wherein the step of processing the empty stnng compπses the steps of determining whether a first item of the stored data stored in the storage means compnses the empty stnng, determi nu whether a first position of the buffer compnses the empty stnng, and storing the empty stπng in the first storage element in the storage means after determinmg that the first element stored in the storage means does not compnse an emprs stπng and determining that the first position compπses the empty stπng 19 The method of claim 12 wherein the step of sequentially processing further compπses the steps of determining an amount of entnes in the present index block, determming whether the amount is larger than a predetermined full index block number, and splitting the present index block after determining the amount is larger than the predetermined full index block number and determining the another search key is not within the key interval of the present index block 20 The method of claim 12 wherein the step of processing in sequence further compπses the steps of determimng an amount of entπes in the present index block, determining whether the amount is larger than a maximum number of entπes; and splitting the present index block after determining the amount is larger than the maximum number 21 In a computer compπsing a storage means a tree structure for retπeval of stored data and a sequence compπsed of ordinal elements, the tree structure compnsing at least one entry, wherein each entry compπses a depth value and a data present indicator for indexing search keys within the storage means a method using the computer for locating a search key indexed by the tree structure, compπsing the steps of compiling into each ordinal element of the sequence each ordinal value of the search key, 402, 501 ), determining which entry includes a depth value with a predetermined relationship to one of the ordinal elements of the sequence, determimng a count of each entry wherein the indicator indicates a coπesponding data item mcluded in said stored data, and locating the search key indexed by the tree structure based on the count 22 The method of claim 21 wherem the step of compiling into each ordinal element further compnses the step of determining each ordinal value of the search key compπsed of a finite two letter alphabet 23 The method of claim 22 wherein the step of determining each ordinal value compnses the step of determining each ordinal value of the search key compnsed of a binary representation 24 The method of claim 21 wherein the step of determining which entry includes a depth value compπses the step of determining which entrv includes a depth value less than one of the ordinal elements ofthe sequence 25. In a computer compπsing a storage means, a tree structure for retπeval of stored data and compnsmg at least one index block that each have at least one entry that each compnse a depth value and an indicator, each entry defining a key interval and further compπsing a leaf entry or a non-leaf entty. a method of storing indexing information for a search key within the tree structure, compπsing the steps of: searching the tree structure for a leaf entry, wherein the search key belongs in the key interval defined by said leaf entry; determining a coπect placement for stoπng the indexing information of the search key relative to said leaf entry within the tree structure; associating a storage element within the storage means with an entry coπesponding to coπect placement; and setting the indicator of the entry to indicate a coπesponding data item is stored in the storage means. 26. The method of claim 25. wherein each index block further compnses a leaf index block or a non-leaf index block and each index block defines a second key interval , wherein the step of searching compnses the steps of: search i ng the tree structure for a leaf index block wherein the search key is contained in the second key interval defined by the leaf index block; and searching the leaf index block for the leaf entry wherein the search key is contained in the key interval defined by the leaf entry 1 27 In a computer compnsing a storage means, a tree structure tor retπeval of stored data withm the storage means and compπsing at least one index block that each nav e at least one entry that each compπse a depth value and a data present indicator, each index block associated 5 with access information, a method of splitting one index block, compπsing the steps of determining a minimum depth entry within the one index block, creating a new index block within the tree structure, assigning the minimum depth entry and each entry preceding and including the minimum depth entry in the one index block to the one index block. , f . assigning each entry succeeding the mmimum depth entry in the one index block to the new index block, stormg information pertaining to the one index block and the new index block in a parent index block, and stormg the access information ofthe one index block, the new index block, and the parent 5 index 28 The method of claim 27. wherem the step of stonng information compπses the step of stoπng a final depth value ofthe one index block and the new index block in the parent index block. 0 29. The method of claim 27, wherein each index block is associated w ith an element of a count structure for indexing search keys, said count structure indexing search keys by stoπng a number of said at least one entry linked to a coπesponding data item in said stored data, 5 wherein the step of stoπng access information compπses the step of updating the element of the count structure associated with the one index block, the new index block, and the parent index block

Inventors: MARQUIS JEAN A, MARQUIS, JEAN, A.
Applicants: MARQUIS JEAN A, SAND TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS INTERN, MARQUIS, JEAN, A., SAND TECHNOLOGY SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06F12, G06F17