Patent ID: 6965894

Claim:
A method for performing multi-column, bi-directional searches of an index in a database management system executed by a computer, comprising: (a) constructing an n-column search key; and (b) traversing the index using the constructed n-column search key, wherein the index comprises a tree having one or more nodes, each node stores a column value that identifies a specified column of the constructed n-column search key that is used to determine a next path taken through the tree, a null value N that specifies whether a null value or an actual data value of the specified column of the constructed n-column search key is used to determine the next path taken through the tree, and a position value that specifies a portion of the specified column from the constructed n-column search key to be used to determine the next path taken through the tree when the actual data value of the specified column of the constructed n-column search key is used to determine the next path taken through the tree.