Apparatus for maintaining an ordered list

• Main Author: MANN EYTAN
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 25.09.2001
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: CALCULATING; COMPUTING; COUNTING; ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING; PHYSICS

An apparatus for maintaining an ordered list which can store any type and number of data items. The ordered list can be implemented in hardware so as to enable fast, efficient maintenance of an ordered list of data. The data to be stored in the list is stored as a plurality of data cells each comprising any number of bits. The ordered list permits data to be read from, written to and deleted from the list. Data is written to the list using a push operation and data is deleted from the listing using a pop operation. A controller, processor or other source, provides the cell address information for each read, push and pop operation. The ordered list comprises a plurality of index units with each index unit comprising a 3 to 1 multiplexor whose output is connected to a data cell comprising a register or suitable data storage device. The mux selects data to its output from either (1) input cell data (2) the data cell in the previous index unit or (3) the data cell in the next index unit. Individual operations of pushing, popping and reading are defined. In addition, a push operation and a pop operation can be performed simultaneously regardless of whether the push address is greater than, smaller than or equal to the pop address.