Patent ID: 8560698

Claim:
A method for allocating identifiers implemented on a computing device, the method comprising: receiving, by a processor, a request from a user for allocating identifiers including a pre-defined number of identifiers; in response to receiving the request, the processor: identifying a plurality of subgroups of identifiers within an identifier range, wherein the plurality of subgroups of identifiers includes at least a first subgroup of identifiers and a second subgroup of identifiers; selecting a first set of identifiers from within the range of the first subgroup of identifiers; comparing the first set of identifiers from the first subgroup of identifiers with a second set of identifiers from the second subgroup of identifiers to identify a first set of common identifiers using metadata of the second set of identifiers, wherein, the first set of identifiers and the second set of identifiers comprise at least the common identifiers; and generating a third set of identifiers by eliminating the first set of common identifiers from the first set of identifiers, wherein the second subgroup of identifiers are at least pending for use when the first set of identifiers is selected from within the range of the first subgroup of identifiers, and wherein the identifying the first set of common identifiers using metadata of the second set of identifiers comprises: generating the second set of identifiers responsive to the metadata instead of retrieving all the second set of identifiers from a storage device; and; further in response to receiving the request, the processor: transmitting the third set of identifiers to the user.