Patent ID: 6389031
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
In a system having a parameter queue for referencing stored information based on their respective parameter values, and having a validity bit associated with each of M parameter values for indicating whether any of the stored information have that parameter value, a method for selecting, from candidate information, an information having an extreme parameter value, the method comprising steps of:a) generating a hierarchy of L levels from the validity bits, the hierarchy generated via sub-steps of, i) grouping the M validity bits into groups of gLâˆ’1 bits, ii) logically ORing the gLâˆ’1 validity bits in each of the groups, iii) defining bits of a next level by concatenating the OR results thereby generating M/gLâˆ’1 bits, iv) storing the bits of the next level in an addressable memory, and v) at each of the remaining levels l, except a highest level l=0, repeatedly A) grouping Ml bits into groups of gl bits, B) logically ORing the gl bits in each of the groups, C) concatenating the OR results thereby generating Ml/gl bits which define bits of a next level, and D) if the next level is not the highest level lâ‰ 0, storing the bits of the next level in a next addressable memory and if the next level is the highest level l=0, storing the bits of the next level in a storage device; and b) searching for an information having an extreme parameter value.