Patent ID: 7233964

Claim:
A method for detecting the greatest number from a plurality of Numbers Z 1 , Z 2 , . . . , Z R , comprising: a) dividing each of said Numbers into two or more binary Segments Z j (N−1) ,Z j (N−2) , . . . ,Z j (0) , where the bit length of said Segments is determined according to their level of significance and where sets of said Segments are arranged according to their level of significance wherein the first set of Segments Z j (N−1) ,Z j (N−1) , . . . ,Z j (N−1) includes the Most Significant Segments of said Numbers and the last set of Segments Z j (0) , Z j (0) , . . . , Z j (0) includes the Least Significant Segments of said Numbers; b) simultaneously comparing the numerical values of the Segments Z 1 (K) ,Z 2 (K) , . . . ,Z R (K) having the same level of Significance, determining a group designating the Numbers which the numerical value of their Most Significant Segment is the greatest, and evaluating for the Least Significant Segments a Grade indicating their numerical size in comparison with the numerical value of the other Segments of the same level of significance; c) starting from the second set of Segments Z 1 (N−2) ,Z 2 (N−2) , . . . ,Z R (N−1) , comparing the Grades of the Segments of the Numbers which corresponds to said group, and removing from said group any Number indication with a Grade that is less than the highest Grade which corresponds to another Number indication in said group; d) repeating step c) until the last set of Segments Z 1 (0) ,Z 2 (0) , . . . ,Z R (0) is reached or until a single Number is designated by said group.