Patent ID: 8055687

Claim:
A computer implemented method for determining an interval of a space filling curve in a query box, comprising: providing a range query-box contained within a data set, wherein the data set has a plurality of elements in N dimensions; applying a space filling curve to the data set, wherein the space filling curve contacts each of the elements in the N dimensions; determining an entry point of the space filling curve into the range-query box; forming a first endpoint box to cover an hquad (hyperquad) of the space filling curve that is contained within the range-query box at the entry point, wherein the first endpoint box includes P×P elements, and wherein P is a positive integer with a first value selected as one; and increasing the value of P to expand the first endpoint box around a next larger hquad of the space filling curve until a size of the first endpoint box is maximized without exiting the range-query box to enable the interval of the space filling curve in the first endpoint box to be determined.