US Patent 7558780 Minimal difference query and view matching

The subject disclosure pertains to efficient computation of the difference between queries by exploiting commonality between them. A minimal difference query (MDQ) is generated that roughly corresponds to removal of as many joins as possible while still accurately representing the query difference. The minimal difference can be employed to further substantially the scope of view matching where a query is not wholly subsumed by a view. Additionally, the minimal difference query can be employed as an analytical tool in various contexts.