Patent ID: 7505957

Claim:
A computer implemented method of incrementally maintaining an algebraic aggregate function in an automatic summary table (AST) of at least one relational database, said method comprising: creating a first work area associated with an additional column for said algebraic aggregate function of said AST; creating a second work area associated with variables and error estimate variables of distributive aggregate functions used to compute said algebraic aggregate function, wherein each said variable and each said error estimate variable corresponds to a row of said AST, wherein each said error estimate variable estimates an error between a value of said variable and a full recomputation value of said variable; and wherein said variables and said error estimate variables are incrementally maintainable; upon receiving a query corresponding to said AST, populating and either inserting or deleting said variables and said error estimate variables within said second work area to provide an incrementally maintained variable and an incrementally maintained error estimate variable to said first work area; when a ratio of an estimated error value of said algebraic aggregate function for a given row of said AST to said incrementally maintained error estimate value, corresponding to said given row, exceeds a threshold, then selectively recomputing a value for said variable, otherwise maintaining said incrementally maintained error estimate value of said variable; and reporting said algebraic aggregate function of said AST, based on either said recomputed value or said incrementally maintained error estimate value, in response to said query.