Method for handling overflow of counters in comparison based actions

A computer system comprising a processor and an application executed in said processor;

• the application having a counter for setting first and second counter values in respect of first and second objects, respectively, said counter having a range of n possible values and being incremented or decremented in accordance with update criterion,
• said application taking an action according to a decision criterion that includes the stipulation that the first counter value is larger or equal to the second counter value;
• the processor is capable of handling a counter overflow event whereby the counter is incremented beyond said range;
• said processor includes:
• (i) compactor, compacting the first and second counter values to m values (m<n) so as to constitute first and second compacted counter values respectively;
• such that if the first counter value is larger than or equal to the second counter value then the compacted first value is not smaller than the compacted second value;
• and
• (ii) counter setting unit, setting the counter to a value to a value from among n-m values within said range,
• whereby substantially n-m counter values are released.