Method and system for providing a hardware sort for a large number of items
US6775667B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 8, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 10, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S707/99937
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and system for sorting a number of items in a computer system is described. The sort is based on values of a key. Each item has a value. The method and system include providing stages, providing switch(es) coupled between the stages, and providing a final switch coupled with a last stage. Each stage has a pair of first-in-first-out buffers (FIFOs) that store twice as many of the items as the FIFOs in a previous stage. The switch merges and sorts a first portion of the number of items from the pair of FIFOs in the previous stage based on the key and provides the first portion of the number of items to a first FIFO of the stage in order. The switch performs an analogous function for a second FIFO in the stage. The last switch merges and sorts a third portion of the number of items to provide the number of items in order.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.