Patent ID: 8250075

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for generating an ordered data set, comprising: providing a data set of tuples, each tuple comprising a key and a corresponding reference; determining the number of corresponding references in the data set of tuples that include each key; allocating an inversion buffer in a memory; allocating a key space in the inversion buffer for each key in the data set of tuples to be included in an ordered data set of tuples and associating that key with the key space; allocating a variable number of reference spaces in the key spaces, wherein one of the reference spaces in each key space is allocated for each reference that corresponds to the key associated with the key space from the determined number of corresponding references that include each key; associating the corresponding reference with the reference space allocated for that corresponding reference; and generating the ordered data set of the tuples based upon the positional relationship of the key spaces and the reference spaces.