Patent ID: 8291234

Claim:
A method, implemented using a computer system, for representing a list comprising names using a bit array wherein bits in the bit array are initialized to a first value, comprising: extracting portions of a name, using the computer system; combining the portions, using the computer system, to create a standardized item that is smaller than the name from which the portions were extracted; converting the standardized item to a cryptographic value using a cryptographic algorithm and the computer system; extracting a plurality of n-bit samples from the cryptographic value, the n-bit samples including at least a first field and a second field, the first field identifying a group of bits of the bit array, and the second field identifying one or more bit positions within the group of bits; and setting, using the computer system, bits at the bit positions to a second value according to the first field identifying the group of bits and the second field identifying the bit positions within the group of bits.