Patent ID: 6968335

Claim:
A system for processing at least one query to a database, the system comprising: a first processing matrix comprising: a master node of a first type having a processor and receiving at least one executable compiled from a query; and a first plurality of slave nodes of a first type each comprising a processor and means for storing data, each first type slave node storing a portion of the database, each first type slave node processor adapted to execute a first portion of the at least one executable on its stored database portion to generate query results, the plurality of first type slave nodes executing the first executable portion substantially in parallel to collectively generate a set of initial query results; and a second processing matrix receiving the initial query results generated by the first processing matrix and comprising: a second plurality of slave nodes of a second type each comprising a processor and means for storing a portion of the initial query results, each second type slave node processor adapted to execute a second portion of the at least one executable on its stored initial query results portion to generate a portion of intermediary query results, the plurality of second type slave nodes executing the second executable portion substantially in parallel to collectively generate a set of intermediary query results.