Patent ID: 7774379

Claim:
A method of splitting an existing partition of a partitioned table, wherein the partitioned table has been partitioned into a plurality of non-overlapping partitions based on a plurality of currently-established partition definitions, the method comprising: receiving a plurality of new partition definitions; wherein each new partition definition of the plurality of new partition definitions encompasses one or more values for matching data items to a corresponding new partition of a plurality of new partitions; wherein the plurality of new partition definitions include: a first new partition definition that corresponds to a first new partition of the plurality of new partitions, and a second new partition definition that corresponds to a second new partition of the plurality of new partitions; wherein the currently-established partition definition of the existing partition encompasses multiple values for matching data items to the existing partition; wherein the currently-established partition definition of the existing partition encompasses at least one value that falls within the first new partition definition and at least one value that falls within the second new partition definition; determining whether a set of one or more conditions is satisfied, wherein the set of one or more conditions includes a condition that only one partition of the plurality of new partitions would include all data items that currently exist in the existing partition, when the set of one or more conditions is satisfied, changing the currently-established partition definition of the existing partition, and using the existing partition as a new non-empty partition of the plurality of new partitions; and storing metadata to establish each new partition of the plurality of new partitions other than the new non-empty partition; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.