Apparatus and method for aligning corresponding elements in multiple streams of elements

A diagnostic apparatus comprising:

• a first interface to receive a first stream of elements;
• a second interface to receive a second stream of elements;
• and
• analysis circuitry to perform an alignment operation in respect of the first and second streams;
• the first stream containing a first element to identify each occurrence of a corresponding second element in the second stream, and providing in association with each instance of the first element an associated key value determined from a set of key values, where the set of key values is insufficient to allow unique key values to be generated for each instance of the first element and wherein key values to be generated from the set are such that a sequence of a specified number ‘s’ of key values repeats only after ‘p’ key values have been generated, where p>s;
• and
• wherein the analysis circuitry is arranged to analyse a sequence of key values associated with a corresponding sequence of instances of the first element within the first stream in order to determine alignment between a first element in the first stream and its corresponding second element in the second stream, wherein the sequence of key values within the first stream are pseudorandom.

A method of operating an apparatus to generate multiple streams of elements, comprising:

• generating a first stream comprising first elements;
• generating a second stream comprising second elements;
• during generation of the first stream, inserting a first element in the first stream to identify each occurrence of a corresponding second element in the second stream;
• generating, for each instance of the first element to be included within the first stream, an associated key value determined from a set of key values, where the set of key values is insufficient to allow unique key values to be generated for each instance of the first element;
• and
• indicating within the first stream the associated key value for each instance of the first element, such that subsequent analysis of a sequence of key values associated with a corresponding sequence of instances of the first element within the first stream enables alignment between a first element in the first stream and its corresponding second element in the second stream;
• wherein the sequence of key values within the first stream are pseudo random;
• and
• wherein key values from the set are generated such that a sequence of a specified number ‘s’ of key values repeats only after ‘p’ key values have been generated, where p>s.

A method of operating a diagnostic apparatus to analyse multiple streams, comprising:

• receiving a first stream of elements;
• receiving a second stream of elements;
• and
• performing an alignment operation in respect of the first and second streams;
• the first stream containing a first element to identify each occurrence of a corresponding second element in the second stream, and providing in association with each instance of the first element an associated key value determined from a set of key values, where the set of key values is insufficient to allow unique key values to be generated for each instance of the first element and wherein key values from the set are generated such that a sequence of a specified number ‘s’ of key values repeats only after ‘p’ key values have been generated, where p>s;
• and
• during said alignment operation, analysing a sequence of key values associated with a corresponding sequence of instances of the first element within the first stream in order to determine alignment between a first element in the first stream and its corresponding second element in the second stream, wherein the sequence of key values within the first stream are pseudorandom.