Patent ID: 8069193

Claim:
A computer implemented method for utilizing a column function for a relational database in a structure query language (SQL) environment, the column function for performing an operation on an indeterminate number of entries, the relational database utilizing data including a plurality of entries being organized into a table having at least one column and at least one row of the entries, wherein the computer performs the following functions comprising: (a) using a processor to receive at least one user-specified row of the at least one row of entries specified by input from a user; (b) using the processor to simulate a column with the entries of the at least one user-specified row, including using the at least one user-specified row as an argument for a generalized scalar function, such that the generalized scalar function provides the entries of the at least one user-specified row to the column function as though the entries of at the least one user-specified row were arranged in the column, the column function operable on the column as an argument of the column function and not operable on the at least one user-specified row as the argument of the column function; and (c) using the processor to perform the column function on the entries of the at least one user-specified row to provide at least one output.