Patent ID: 7756852

Claim:
A machine-implemented method comprising steps of: receiving, at a database server, from a client-side database application, a batch of SQL instructions for execution by the database server; wherein the database server is a single program that performs operations on data in a database; wherein the batch is received at the database server in a communication having only one set of transmission information for the batch, said communication having been directed to the database server by the client-side database application; wherein the batch includes a first plurality of SQL instructions that belong to a first bundle; wherein the batch includes a second plurality of SQL instructions that belong to a second bundle; wherein the batch includes first data indications that indicate that the first plurality of SQL instructions belong to the first bundle; wherein the batch includes second data indications that indicate that the second plurality of SQL instructions belong to the second bundle; wherein the first data indications either (1) indicate that the first plurality of SQL instructions may be executed in parallel with respect to any other instruction of said first plurality of SQL instructions, or (2) indicate that the first plurality of SQL instructions are to be executed in a particular sequence relative to each other without respect to the sequence in which they are executed relative to instructions that belong to the second plurality of SQL instructions; wherein the second data indications either (1) indicate that the second plurality of SQL instructions may be executed in parallel with respect to any other instruction of said second plurality of SQL instructions, or (2) indicate that the second plurality of SQL instructions are to be executed in a particular sequence relative to each without respect to the sequence in which they are executed relative to instructions that belong to the first plurality of SQL instructions; executing the first plurality of database statements and the second plurality of database statements based on the first data indications and the second data indications; wherein said executing comprises the database server performing a plurality of database operations specified in the first plurality of database statements and second plurality of database statements; wherein the steps are executed by one or more computing devices.