Apparatus for enhancing searches of data tables

In a data processing system having a main store with main store data locations addressed by system addresses and a buffer with buffer data locations addressed by logical addresses where logical addresses that map to a single system address are termed synonym logical addresses wherein the synonym logical addresses are arranged in an order, an apparatus for detecting data in the buffer at synonym logical addresses at which a line of data having a given system address may be stored, comprising:

• a system address register means for storing the given system address;
• means, in communication with the system address register means and responsive portion of to the given system address, for generating a first translation pointer corresponding to a first logical address according to the order;
• translation storage means, having a plurality of translation data locations addressable by translation pointers, for storing translation entries in the translation data locations, the translation entries identifying a logical address and having a system address field and a pointer field, the pointer field supplies a translation pointer to a succeeding translation data location according to the order;
• comparing means, connected to the translation storage means and the system address register means, for comparing the given system address with the system address field in the addressed translation data location to detect synonym logical addresses;
• list pointer selecting means, connected to receive the first translation pointer and the pointer field in an addressed translation data location, for selecting the first translation pointer or the pointer field as a translation pointer for the translation storage means so that a set of translation data locations is associated by the pointer fields in translation entries stored in the set of translation data locations and the set is entered by the first translation pointer;
• means, in communication with the list pointer selecting means, for supplying the selected translation pointer to the translation storage means.