Robust cardinality and cost estimation for skyline operator

摘要

The claimed subject matter relates to incorporating a skyline operator within a relational database engine, and more particularly to a database engine that utilizes novel techniques to determine the lowest cost of generating the skyline produced by the skyline operator. The database engine receives queries and associated preferences and, based on a cardinality estimate and a cost estimate, an appropriate skyline generating technique is utilized to produce a skyline representative of the received queries and its associated preferences.