Patent ID: 6940852
Filing Date: 2005-09-06
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A counter for probabilistically counting a plurality of items comprising: a random number generator configured to generate a random number in a range defined by a first value; a count value register configured to hold a representation of a present count of the items, the count value register including a portion for holding a mantissa of the present count and a portion for holding an exponent of the present count; an adder connected to the count value register and configured to increment the portion of the count value register that holds the mantissa when the generated random number is less than a second value based on at least one of the plurality of items, and increment the portion of the count value register that holds the exponent when the portion that holds the mantissa overflows; and an update component connected to the count value register and configured to recalculate the first value as a higher value when the exponent is increased by the adder.