Patent ID: 7356542

Claim:
A machine-implemented method comprising the steps of: generating, based on a first set of data associated with a plurality of dimensions, a second set of data; and storing said second set of data in a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory; wherein the first set of data is not dense relative to a first dimension of the plurality of dimensions; wherein the second set of data is dense relative to the first dimension; wherein the first set of data includes a plurality of subsets of data and each of the subsets of data is a partition of the first set of data, and is associated with a single dimension value selected from one dimension of the plurality of dimensions; wherein the step of generating includes separtely performing, for each particular subset in the plurality of subsets, a mini join operation that involves an outer join between a third set of data and the particular subset; and wherein separately preforming the mini join operation for each particular subset in the plurality of subsets generates the second set of data.