Patent ID: 7024401

Claim:
A method for database partition boundary determination in a database management system (DBMS), the method comprising: providing a pre-configured number S defining a default sample size in a database analysis program; selectively receiving by the database analysis program a particular number defining a desired sample size and setting said number S equal to said particular number; providing a seed value to the database analysis program for initializing a random number algorithm; randomly sampling S records of the database by the database analysis program using the random sampling algorithm, wherein said S records are different each time said method is utilized with different seed values, and wherein said S records are different for successive utilizations of said method if at least one record has been added to or deleted from said database between successive utilizations of said method; storing statistics for each of said S records as stored statistics including a record key for each record; and, producing an approximation partition analysis based on said stored statistics, wherein said approximation partition analysis is not mathematically exact.