Patent ID: 8260909
Filing Date: 2012-09-04
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
1. A method for using a computer to determine whether a data element exists within a set of data elements observed from a stream of data, comprising: storing a value representing the data element in an enhanced Bloom filter that includes multiple instances of a Bloom filter when the data element is observed in the stream of data in a time interval, wherein each instance of the Bloom filter is associated with a different time interval, and wherein storing the value representing the data element comprises storing the value in two or more of the multiple instances associated with two or more consecutive time intervals to indicate that the data element was observed; in response to receiving a query that seeks to determine whether the data element was observed in the stream of data, performing a lookup in the enhanced Bloom filter to determine whether the value representing the data element is present in the enhanced Bloom filter; and because the value representing the data element is present in the enhanced Bloom filter, generating a notification that the data element was observed.