Patent ID: 6934710

Claim:
In a first node, a computer method of identifying records, said method comprising: receiving a record having a global record identifier associated therewith, said global record identifier comprising an offset and a local record identifier assigned by a second node, wherein global record identifiers are for identifying records across multiple nodes and wherein local record identifiers are for identifying records within a node; mapping said global record identifier to a local record identifier assigned by said first node, wherein said local record identifier assigned by said first node comprises fewer bits than said global record identifier; and allocating a first range of local record identifiers in an address space, said address space comprising a plurality of local record identifiers, said first range comprising a portion of said plurality of local record identifiers, said first range of local record identifiers reserved for use with records generated by said first node, wherein a first offset uniquely associated with said first node is associated with said first range.