Accessing an N-way linked list

#This disclosure relates generally to data structures stored in computer memory, and more particularly, to accessing elements in data structures stored in computer memory.

#Some currently available processors support single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) operations. A SIMD operation is an operation in which a single instruction operates on two or more data elements items in parallel. For example, a SIMD load instruction may load eight 16-bit values in parallel. In this example, in the same number of clock cycles needed to perform a conventional load instruction that loads a single 16-bit value, a SIMD load instruction would load eight 16-bit values. SIMD processing may be referred to as vector processing. SIMD instructions provide a significant speed up over comparable conventional instructions. However, SIMD instructions may not be suitable for use with known algorithms and data structures. One example processor that supports SIMD instructions is the Pentium® microprocessor via an extension known as multimedia extension (“MMX”) instructions. Another example processor that supports SIMD instructions is the PowerPC™ processor.

#The term “process” may generally refer to a computer program that is currently running on a computer system. A process may include one or more threads. The term “thread” may refer to a subset of instructions of a process that perform a specific task. Threads share memory and resources of the process they are part of. Threads may work independently.

#FIGS. 1A-1D show elements of an N-way linked list according to various embodiments.

#FIG. 2 shows example data and an exemplary LIFO N-way linked list at various stages after elements of the example data have been added to the list according to various embodiments.

#FIG. 3 shows the example data and exemplary N-way LIFO linked list of FIG. 2 after all of the example data has been added to the list according to various embodiments.

#In the Figures and the Detailed Description, like numbers may refer to like elements.

#A variety of examples are presented in this Detailed Description. These examples may be referred to as exemplary. Note that the term “exemplary,” as used in this Detailed Description, simply means an example, instance, or illustration. This term is not used to mean that a particular example is superior, commendable, or otherwise deserving of imitation over other examples.

#Accessing an N-Way Linked List