Patent ID: 8116372

Claim:
A system comprising: an encoder; and a memory coupled to the encoder, the memory storing a data structure, the data structure comprising: N node levels for N a positive integer greater than two; N−1 decision levels being respectively interspersed between the node levels; the decision levels and the node levels having a hierarchical arrangement; a first node level of the node levels having first nodes and being a lowermost node level; the first nodes mapping an area divided up into M for M a positive integer equal to a number of the first nodes, wherein the first nodes are capable of mapping the area once over; first pairs of the first nodes respectively provided as input to first rules, the first rules being of a first decision level of the decision levels; a second node level of the node levels having second nodes, the second nodes being formed by respectively merging the first nodes of the first pairs responsive to the first rules; second pairs of the second nodes respectively provided as input to second rules, the second pairs capable of mapping the area once over, the second rules being of a second decision level of the decision levels, the second pairs being formed of a subset of all possible ones of the second nodes for being capable of mapping the area once over; the second pairs being one quarter as many as the first pairs; a third node level of the node levels having third nodes; the third nodes being formed by respectively merging the second nodes of the second pairs responsive to the second rules; and the third nodes capable of mapping the area once over.