System and method for data space allocation using optimized bit representation

1. Field of the Invention A database management system that stores and retrieves large data objects (LOBs) from a database storage of a computer system storage device containing a LOB data space having LOB data values of a database. The space management system permits a user of the computer system to generate requests for access to LOBs of a database and includes a plurality of allocation units for storing data. Each allocation unit has an address, and the allocation units are grouped into a plurality of blocks, each block including at least two allocation units. The space management system includes first and second types of space allocation maps. Each of these two types of space allocation maps has a predetermined number of bits. The first type space allocation map represents blocks of allocation units below a predetermined size, and each bit in the first type space allocation map represents the allocation status of a corresponding one of the allocation units at a particular address. The space allocation map of the second type represents blocks of allocation units equal to, or greater than, the predetermined size. The entire second type space allocation map represents the status and size of a single block of allocation units. The space management system also includes a controller unit for interpreting the space allocation map and for executing requests to store information in said allocation units.