Method for improved bit scan by locating a set bit within a nonzero data entity
US6105032A · kind A · utility
8Cited by
4References
21Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 15, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99942
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method for improving the execution of significant bit scans on a data entity in a computer system is provided. The data entity is examined in a number of iterations equal to the base two logarithm of the size of the data entity in bits, N. Initially, half of the data entity is examined to determine if the significant bit is present. If not, the other half of the data entity is examined. The half within which the significant data entity resides is then iteratively halved and examined in each successive iteration of the method until the number of bits examined is equal to one.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.