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Method and structure for reducing search times

  • US 20020165848A1
  • Filed: 05/16/2001
  • Published: 11/07/2002
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/16/1998
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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7. A method of accessing a particular entry in a list of entries in a computer system, each of the entries including a next entry pointer that points to another entry in the list such that the next entry pointers together form a closed loop, the method comprising:

  • reading a start pointer of one of the entries;

    examining the entries in the list in turn beginning with the entry pointed to by the start pointer and continuing until the particular entry is found;

    if the particular entry is found then performing the following steps;

    accessing the particular entity;

    overwriting the start pointer so as to point to the particular entry; and

    if the particular entry is not found and all of the entries in the list have been examined then performing the following step;

    terminating examination of the entries.

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