Patent · US Expired

Computer program product and method for efficiently selecting one action from among alternative actions

US6026487A · kind A · utility

0Cited by
4References
26Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 28, 1998
Grant dateFeb 15, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 28, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F9/4486
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A computer program product and method for efficiently selecting one action from among alternative actions are disclosed. The computer program product includes a computer readable medium for storing instructions, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to efficiently select one action, from among alternative actions. The selection is based on the value of a selection key, and includes comparing the selection key to values corresponding to alternative actions, and obtaining for each comparison a match or no match indication, and making a number of such comparisons in parallel. The computer then is made to logically AND those indications with an equal quantity of corresponding values, in parallel, to create index indications. The computer then is made to reduce the multiple index indications and to produce in a register a single value corresponding to the selected action or to a default action. The computer is then made to branch to the selected action identified by the value in the register. Eliminated are the multiple branches required by known prior art computer controlling techniques, thereby enhancing performance.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.