Patent ID: 8447901

Claim:
A computer implemented method, including: storing a plurality of data elements in a first buffer, the plurality of data elements sorted according to a priority order for ejecting the data elements from the first buffer; moving one or more groups of sorted data elements of the plurality of data elements from the first buffer into a second buffer in response to detecting an overflow condition of the first buffer inserting a proxy data element in the first buffer to represent the one or more groups of sorted data elements moved into the second buffer; applying a boundary condition to the plurality of data elements stored in the first buffer, wherein the boundary condition is representative of a fixed allowable difference between a value of a first data element stored in the first buffer and a value of a second data element stored in the first buffer; when the boundary condition is not satisfied, ejecting from the first buffer one or more high priority data elements; and merging the one or more groups of sorted data elements from the second buffer with the plurality of data elements in the first buffer according to the priority order in response to the proxy data element becoming a high priority data element.