DATABASE QUERY SYSTEM AND METHOD

The invention includes an information retrieval system having a server and a plurality of clients. The server has access to one or more data storage media on which the server maintains a database. The database has a plurality of records that can be searched based on key values. The server maintains a page definition table in addition to the database. The page definition table has a plurality of entries, each indicating pairs of key values. To perform an information search, a client submits a search value to the server. The server responds by identifying an entry from the page definition table that corresponds to the search value. The server then identifies a set of database records whose key values are bounded by the pair of key values of the identified entry. Data from these database records are returned as search results to the client.