Patent
1995-11-29
1997-09-02
Black, Thomas G.
395603, G06F 1730
Patent
active
056641842
ABSTRACT:
A method and apparatus for increasing the speed of a search through leaf nodes of an inventive key index tree structure, known as a "Q-tree". The present invention identifies "decision-bits" within leaf node entries and uses these decision-bits to accelerate searches for a particular record or for a record adjacent to which a new record is to be inserted. A decision-bit is a particular type of distinction-bit having the smallest value and associated with a search key a greater value then the keys associated with other distinction-bits of the same value within a specified search range. Each decision-bit divides a search range into "left" and "right" parts. One of the two parts will constitute a "new" search range. A "quit-bit" having an ordinal number equal to the value of the decision-bit for the search range, is tested. If the quit-bit is "on", then the right, or greater value, part becomes the new search range. Otherwise, the left, or lesser value, part becomes the new search range. A decision-bit pointer which identifies the relative location of a "root" decision-bit is placed in a predetermined location within the prologue of each leaf node. Additional decision-bit pointers are associated with each subsequent decision-bit within the leaf node and indicate the relative location of such decision-bits with respect to the root decision-bit.
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Ferguson David E.
Ross Eduardo C.
Amalgamated Software of North America, Inc.
Black Thomas G.
Lewis C.
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