Patent ID: 7596551

Claim:
A virtual tree parallel searching method for searching a target data within N data wherein N data is distributed and ordered, said method comprising the steps of: employing m processor units, wherein each of said m processor units has a corresponding memory unit; employing a virtual tree structure in a parallel data search; instructing one processor unit of said m processor units in a rest state; activating m−1 processor units of said m processor units in ┌log m−1 N┐ searching loops, wherein each of said m−1 processor units only processes data in its corresponding memory unit, wherein m is a total number of processor units and N is a total data number; performing the parallel data search in said ┌log m−1 N┐ searching loops, wherein each loop further comprises: (a) each of said m processor units knowing a size value of a search range in each of said ┌log m−1 N┐ searching loops, and a corresponding location within said N data; (b) dividing the size value of the search range by m−1; and partitioning the target data within the search range into m−1 equivalent data parts; (c) assigning each of said m−1 equivalent data parts to each of said m−1 processor units, and said one processor unit is in said rest state; (d) each of said m−1 processor units determines whether said target data is found, wherein a first signal is generated to terminate said parallel data search when any of said m−1 processor units finds an exact location of said target data, and wherein a second signal is generated to notify each of the m processor units when one of said m−1 processor units finds said target data located within the assigned m−1 equivalent data parts and (e) continuing said ┌log m−1 N┐ next searching loop if said parallel data search is not terminated.