Hierarchical sort/merge structure using a request pipe
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsNorbert Hagspiel, Jörg-Stephan Vogt, Thomas Fuchs, Thomas St. Pierre
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sort device includes a compare unit on one level of a hierarchical structure that includes a plurality of levels. The compare unit to compare one beat of one record with another beat of another record to provide a winner beat. The sort device further includes another compare unit on another level of the hierarchical structure to provide a further beat to the compare unit, and a request pipe to be used to request that the other compare unit provide the further beat to the compare unit.
Claims20
A sort device comprising:
- a compare unit on one level of a hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels, the compare unit to compare one beat of one record with another beat of another record to provide a winner beat;
- another compare unit on another level of the hierarchical structure to provide a further beat to the compare unit;
- and
- a request pipe to be used to request that the other compare unit provide the further beat to the compare unit.
An integrated circuit comprising:
- a field programmable gate array, the field programmable gate array comprising:
- a compare unit on one level of a hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels, the compare unit to compare one beat of one record with another beat of another record to provide a winner beat;
- another compare unit on another level of the hierarchical structure to provide a further beat to the compare unit;
- and
- a request pipe to be used to request that the other compare unit provide the further beat to the compare unit.
A method of facilitating sorting of records, the method comprising:
- comparing, by a compare unit on one level of a hierarchical structure comprising a plurality of levels, one beat of one record with another beat of another record to provide a winner beat;
- requesting, by a request pipe, that another compare unit on another level of the hierarchical structure provide a further beat to the compare unit;
- and
- providing, by the other compare unit, the further beat to the compare unit, based on the requesting.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.