1. A method for updating a filter engine opcode tree, the method implemented by a computer comprising a processor and a memory, the method comprising the following steps: (a) compiling a new query to derive a series of opcode objects; (b) traversing the opcode tree according to the series of opcode objects until an opcode object is encountered that is not included in the opcode tree, opcode objects being represented in the opcode tree as opcode nodes; and (c) adding new opcode tree opcode nodes to correspond to the encountered opcode object and subsequent opcode objects in the series of opcode objects; (d) updating a branch node in the opcode tree to add a reference to the new opcode nodes, the branch node being referenced from a parent opcode node that corresponds to a last opcode object from the series of opcode objects that was found in the traversal of the opcode tree; (e) implementing an optimized branch node that includes an optimized indexed lookup procedure, wherein the optimized lookup procedure comprises an interval tree function to optimize numeric interval queries; and (f) restoring the optimized branch node to a generic branch node when the optimized branch node is no longer more efficient than the generic branch code.