Multi-cycle key compares for keys and records of variable length
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsNorbert Hagspiel, Jörg-Stephan Vogt, Christian Jacobi, Thomas Fuchs
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Multi-cycle key compare units. A compare unit includes a comparator, additional compare logic and at least one pair of buffers which provide input to the comparator. The compare unit sorts variable length records in streaming mode without the need for complex state machines to maintain state relating to the comparing. A record may have a variable length key and optional variable length data. The record and/or the key is split into fixed, pre-defined lengths. The total key and record lengths are unknown to the comparator of the compare unit.
Claims20
A compare unit comprising:
- a comparator, said comparator comprising:
- one input to receive one beat of one record to be sorted, the one beat comprising one set of control indicators, and wherein one or more control indicators of the one set of control indicators specify a type of the one beat;
- another input to receive another beat of another record to be sorted, the other beat comprising another set of control indicators, and wherein one or more control indicators of the other set of control indicators specify a type of the other beat;
- and
- logic coupled to the one input and the other input to compare the one beat and the other beat to provide a result, the logic to use at least the one or more control indicators of the one set of control indicators and the one or more control indicators of the other set of control indicators to determine the result.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a field programmable gate array, the field programmable gate array comprising:
- a comparator, said comparator comprising:
- one input to receive one beat of one record to be sorted, the one beat comprising one set of control indicators, and wherein one or more control indicators of the one set of control indicators specify a type of the one beat;
- another input to receive another beat of another record to be sorted, the other beat comprising another set of control indicators, and wherein one or more control indicators of the other set of control indicators specify a type of the other beat;
- and
- logic coupled to the one input and the other input to compare the one beat and the other beat to provide a result, the logic to use at least the one or more control indicators of the one set of control indicators and the one or more control indicators of the other set of control indicators to determine the result.
A method of sorting records, said method comprising:
- receiving, by a comparator, one beat of one record to be sorted, the one beat comprising one set of control indicators, and wherein one or more control indicators of the one set of control indicators specify a type of the one beat;
- receiving, by the comparator, another beat of another record to be sorted, the other beat comprising another set of control indicators, and wherein one or more control indicators of the other set of control indicators specify a type of the other beat;
- and
- comparing, by the comparator, the one beat and the other beat to determine a result, the comparing using at least the one or more control indicators of the one set of control indicators and the one or more control indicators of the other set of control indicators to determine the result.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.