1. A method for updating a filter engine opcode tree, 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.