Patent ID: 7685203

Claim:
A method for accessing XML data, the method comprising: storing a plurality of entries in an index, wherein each entry of the plurality of entries includes (a) a value from said XML data and (b) one or more hierarchical position indicators; wherein at least one entry of the plurality of entries includes a plurality of hierarchical position indicators; wherein each hierarchical position indicator in each entry of the plurality of entries specifies a hierarchical position of an element in the XML data that contains an instance of the value included in the entry; receiving a query for information from the XML data, wherein the query comprises path criterion and value criterion; in response to receiving the query, locating an entry of the plurality of entries in said index; wherein said located entry includes a value from said XML data that satisfies said value criterion; and determining whether an instance of the value included in the located entry satisfies the query by determining whether a hierarchical position indicator included in the located entry satisfies said path criterion; wherein the method is performed by one or more computing devices.