JPH05298070A - Sort processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the sort processor for quick sort processing. CONSTITUTION:Until the comparison order of two data in a sort processing fundamental device 2 in each stage is determined, input data stored in a buffer storage device 8 in the preceding stage is repeatedly written in a storage device 2 by a data write means 4 simultaneously with read of every pieces of both data from the storage device 2 by a data read means 5 and comparison between both data pieces in a data comparing and output means 6. After the order is determined and output data is determined, only data pieces or one data to be outputted are read out from the storage device 2 and are outputted to the buffer storage device 8, and simultaneously input data is written in the storage device 2 from the buffer storage device 8 in the preceding stage. Consequently, the frequency in read access to the storage device 2 is reduced to perform the sort processing at a high speed, and the difference of operation speed between sort processing fundamental devices in respective stages is absorbed by the buffer storage device, and data is smoothly transferred between sort processing fundamental devices.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sorting apparatus for sorting a large amount of data in a designated order.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIGS. 4 and 5 show, for example, Proceedings of 5
A schematic configuration diagram showing a conventional sort processing device shown in th International Workshop on Database Machines, etc.
FIG. 4 shows a sort processing basic device forming the basis of the sort processing device, and FIG. 5 shows an entire sort processing device formed by combining a plurality of the sort processing basic devices.

In the figure, (1) (1 ₁ ) (1 ₂ ) ... (1 ₅ ) is a comparison processing device, and (2) (2 ₁ ) (2 ₂ ) ... (2 ₅ ) is Storage device, (3) (3 ₁ ) (3
₂₎ .... (3 ₅₎ sorting process basic unit constituted by the comparative processing unit (1) and the storage device (2), (4) (5) (6) of the comparison processing unit (1) In each of the means to be executed, (4) is a data writing means for sequentially writing the comparison target data from an external or preceding sort processing basic device (3) to the storage device (2), and (5) is a storage device (2 ) Is a data reading means for sequentially reading the comparison target data stored in each fragment, and (6) is a data writing means for each of the two pieces of comparison data read by the data reading means (5). Data comparison output means for sequentially comparing and sequentially outputting only data of a predetermined rank when writing the next comparison target data by (4), (7)
Is a sort processing device configured by connecting a plurality of sort processing basic devices (3) (3 ₁ ) (3 ₂ ) ... (3 ₅ ) in multiple stages.

Next, the operation will be described. The data to be sorted is sequentially input from the outside to the sort processing basic device (3 ₁ ) from the outside to the sort processing device (7) of FIG. 5, and the sort processing basic device (3 ₁ ) to the right sort processing basic device. (3 ₂ )
... The data is sent to (3 ₅ ) while partially changing the order, and the final sort processing basic device finally outputs the sorted data in the required order. Hereinafter, the sorting operation will be described in detail with reference to the specific example shown in FIG. In Fig. 6, the data is input to the sort processing basic device (3 ₁ ) in the order of 14-9-10-7-3-2-6-11-1-13-4-9-12-5-15-8. Suppose This data fragment string is shown in the portion SE ₁ of FIG. For the sake of explanation, it is assumed here that a descending sort from large to small is specified.

In the sort processing basic device (3 ₁ ) at the left end, when the data of SE ₁ is input from the outside and stored in the storage device (2 ₁ ) by the data writing means (4) of the comparison processing device (1). , The data fragments are sorted in descending order by two and output as described below. That is, the data read means (5) sequentially reads the first input data fragment 14 and the next input data fragment 9 from the storage device (2), and these data fragments are compared with the data comparison output means (6). ), 14 is output first and 9 is output later. These operations are repeated one after another, and the sorting basic device (3 ₁ ) sends 14
-9, 10-7, 3-2, 11-6, 13-1, 9-4, 12-5, 15-8, two data fragments sorted in descending order (length 2 here)
Is called a string) is the next sort processing basic device (3 ₂ )
Is output to. This string sequence is shown in part SE ₂ of FIG. Here, for example, by comparing 14 and 9, 14
Is input first, the next input data fragment 10 is input and stored in the storage device (2 ₁ ), and then 14 and 9 are output, then the next input data fragment 7 is input. Then, the comparison with the previously stored 10 is performed at the same time.

In the next sort processing basic device (3 ₂ ), the input string of length 2 is further partially sorted into a string of length 4 and the next sort processing basic device (3 ₃ ) Sent to. For this purpose, the first input string of length 2 14-9 is stored in the storage device (2 ₂ ). Next, the head data fragment 14 of the string of length 2 is compared with the head data fragment 10 of the next input string 10-7, and 14 is output first. continue,
The remaining data fragment 9 of the first string and the leading data fragment 10 of the latter string are compared again and 10 is output.
Next, the remaining data fragment 9 of the first string and the remaining data fragment 7 of the latter string are compared, and the data are output in the order of 9-7. By repeating this operation in the second sort processing basic device (3 ₂ ), the third sort processing basic device (3 ₃ ) receives 14-10-9-7, 11-6-3-2, 13-9-4-1, 15-
A string of length 4 of 12-8-5 is output. This string sequence is shown in part SE ₃ of FIG.

Here, for example, 14 and 10 are compared and the next input data fragment 7 is input and stored in the storage device (2 ₂ ) while 14 is output. Next, when 9 and 10 are compared and 10 is output, the next input data fragment 3 is input and stored in the storage device (2 ₂ ). Finally, when comparing 9 and 7, since these data fragments are both stored in the storage device (2 ₂ ), the storage device (2 ₂ ) is accessed twice during the comparison and these are When read and compared and output, the input data fragments 2 and 11 are stored in the storage device (2 ₂ ).

The sorting operation basic device (3 ₃ ) (3 ₄ ) ... (3 ₅ ) similarly performs the above-described sorting operation, and a predetermined process is performed from the rightmost sort processing basic device (3 ₅ ). The string data of length 2 ⁵ sorted in descending order is output. Generally, the i-th sort processing basic device (3 _i ) is descending order 2 ⁱ
By outputting the set, 2 ⁿ data fragments are output as a string of length 2 ⁿ when the n-th sort processing basic device (3 _n ) is output, and a predetermined descending sort is realized. Become. Here, assuming that the length of each data fragment is L, at least the storage device (2 _i ) of the i-th sorting basic device (3 _i ) must have a capacity of 2 ^i-1 × L, and The processing basic device has a storage device capacity of 2 from the left end.
You will need to double each. This state is shown in FIG. 5 in which the storage device (2) is sequentially doubled in size.

The data fragment to be sorted here is
Although it was explained that it consists only of simple integers such as 14-9, the individual data fragments to be sorted are actually several hundreds, for example, in the case of personnel data, the surname, first name, address, age, etc. It may be from a byte to several kilobytes. As described above, when the data length is long and the order cannot be determined by one comparison by the comparison device, the above-described comparison operation needs to be repeated every time the data fragments are compared until the order is determined. At this time, as described in the comparison between 9 and 7 in the second sort processing basic device (3 ₂ ), the comparison processing device (1) inside each sort processing basic device (3) , Generally, it operates by reading two comparison target data from its own memory device (2), comparing them, and at the same time writing the input data to its own memory device (2). To do. This state is shown in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining an access operation showing the manner of access to the memory device (2) for writing and reading. In the figure, R ₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , ... The first data fragment of the two data read for R ₂₁ ,
R ₂₂ , R ₂₃ , R ₂₄ , ... Are the second data fragments, W ₃₁ ,
W ₃₂ , W ₃₃ , W ₃₄ , ... Represent the next data fragment written at the time of comparison of the previous two data fragments. In general, the data fragment read at the j-th time of the i-th data is R _ij , and the data fragment written at the j-th time of the i-th data is Wij.

As is clear from this figure, comparison of all data and storage of all input data in the storage device (2)
It is necessary to access the storage device (2) three times for each fragment. First, access the first fragment R ₁₁ of the first data,
The first piece R ₂₁ of the second data is then accessed and compared, and at the same time the first piece W ₃₁ of the input data is written and stored in the storage device. Next, the second piece R ₁₂ of the first data is accessed, then the second piece R ₂₂ of the second data is accessed, and these are compared, and at the same time, the second piece W ₃₂ of the input data is accessed. Store in storage device (2).
By repeating the same operation for the third fragment, the fourth fragment and all the fragments of data, the comparison of two data and the storage of one input data in the storage device are completed.

[0012]

The conventional sort processing device is configured as described above, and when each sort processing basic device connected in series as described above performs data comparison and output, each stage is processed. In the sorting processing basic device (3),
Two readings of two compared data from the storage device (2) by the data reading means (5) and data reading means
Since the data sent from the sorting basic device (3) at the preceding stage by (5) and the writing to the storage device (2) once are performed in synchronization as one processing unit, two data are compared and compared. 3 to the storage device to output one data
Needs to be accessed once. Moreover, the comparison processing device (1)
While simple operations such as temporary holding of data by the data comparison and output means (6), comparison processing, and output of comparison results can be processed at high speed, data writing means (4) and data reading means (5) The access processing time with respect to the storage device (2) at the time of writing and reading becomes longer as the comparison target data length becomes larger due to the limitation of the performance of the storage element constituting the storage device (2). Therefore, the speed of data processing in the sort processing basic device (3) is determined by the access time required for two readings and one writing to the storage device (2), and the processing speed of the entire sort processing device (7) is There was a problem that it was significantly reduced due to an increase in comparison data.

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and reduces the read access to the storage device required for data comparison and output, and makes it possible to perform high-speed sort processing. Aim to get.

[0014]

Generally, when the length of data to be sorted is long and one data is divided into a plurality of pieces, which data should be output is determined by comparing the data. The number of fragments required to obtain the name depends on the combination of two data to be compared. For example, when sorting the family name, there are cases where the family name alone is used for the determination, and cases where the name cannot be obtained until the first name is checked. Therefore, when it is difficult to obtain a judgment result when comparing two data, it is necessary to continue reading and comparing the data fragments until the judgment is made, while the data to be output is determined by comparing the first fragment. For example, the subsequent comparison of fragments is meaningless, and it is not necessary to read out data fragments that are not output. The present invention has been made with this point in mind.

The sort processing apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention is a fragment of all data until the predetermined order of the plurality of comparison target data is determined by the data comparison and output means of the comparison processing apparatus in each sort processing basic apparatus. Is a combination of a plurality of stages of sort processing basic devices having a comparison processing device equipped with a data reading means for reading only the fragments of the data that have a predetermined rank and are output after the order is determined.

In the sorting apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the output data from the data comparison and output means of the comparison processing apparatus of each sorting processing basic apparatus is temporarily stored, and the stored data is sorted in the next stage. According to the status signal from the comparison processing device in the basic processing device, a buffer memory device of the first-in first-out system which is output to the data writing means thereof is provided.

[0017]

The sort processing device according to the first aspect of the present invention is the same as the conventional sort processing basic device while the data comparison output means of the comparison processing device determines which of the two data is to be output. Similarly, both pieces of data are read from the storage device by the data reading means for each fragment and compared by the data comparing and outputting means. After the data comparing and outputting means determines which data should be output, the remaining fragments of both data are read by the data reading means from the storage device twice and the data writing means is used as in the conventional case. Only one data fragment to be output by the data reading means is output from the storage device without performing a synchronous operation such as one-time writing to the storage device.
The data is read once and switched by the data writing means to be written once to the storage device, the number of read accesses from the storage device is reduced, and the sorting process is performed at high speed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sort processing device according to the first aspect of the invention is characterized in that the read / write timing in the sort processing basic device of each stage differs depending on the comparison data. The data output by the output means is temporarily stored in a first-in first-out buffer storage device, and the data stored in the buffer storage device is transferred to the next stage in accordance with a writable state signal from the next sort processing basic device. It is output to the data writing means of the comparison processing device.

[0019]

【Example】

Example 1. 1 and 2 are schematic configuration diagrams showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a sort processing basic device that constitutes the basis of a sort processing device, and FIG. 2 shows a combination of a plurality of these sort processing basic devices. 3 shows the entire sorted processing device.

In the figure, (1) (1 ₁ ) (1 ₂ ) ... (1 ₅ ) is a comparison processing device, and (2) (2 ₁ ) (2 ₂ ) ... (2 ₅ ) is Storage device, (3) (3 ₁ ) (3
₂₎ .... (3 ₅₎ sorting process basic unit constituted by the comparative processing unit (1) and the storage device (2), (4) (5) (6) of the comparison processing unit (1) In each of the means to be executed, (4) is a data writing means for sequentially writing the comparison target data from an external or preceding sort processing basic device (3) to the storage device (2), and (5) is a storage device (2 ), Data read means for sequentially reading the comparison target data stored in each fragment, (6) sequentially comparing the two comparison target data read by the data reading means (5) for each fragment, and determining a predetermined value. The data comparison and output means that sequentially outputs only the data of the order of (7) is composed of the basic unit for sorting processing (3) (3 ₁ ) (3 ₂ ) ... (3 ₅ ) connected in multiple stages. Sort processor, (8) (8 ₁ ) (8 ₂ ) ・ ・ ・ ・ (8 ₅ ) is connected to the output of comparison processor (1) (1 ₁ ) (1 ₂ ) ・ ・ ・ ・ (1 ₅ ). First-in first-out buffer storage, (9) A status signal to indicate whether the data received from the sort process basic unit (3) for the preceding sorting process basic unit (3).

FIG. 3 is an access operation explanatory view showing a state of writing and reading access to the storage device (2) in this embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. 7 of the conventional example.

Next, the operation will be described. Data to be sorted to the sorting device of Fig 2 (7), are sequentially inputted to the left end of the sorting process basic unit from the outside (3 _1), the sorting process basic unit (3 ₁₎ from the right side of the sorting process basic unit (3 ₂ )
... The data is sent to (3 ₅ ) while partially changing the order, and the final sort processing basic device finally outputs the sorted data in the required order. Basic equipment for sorting process of each stage
The operation of (3 ₁ ) (3 ₂ ) ... (3 ₅ ) is basically the same,
Here, the operation of the sort processing basic device (3 _n ) at a certain stage will be described.

The stored device (2) first fragment R ₁₁ of one of the first data of the two data stored is accessed by the data reading means (5) for comparison with the read, then the other The first fragment R ₁₂ of the second data of the above is accessed and read, and both of these data fragments R ₁₁ and R ₁₂ are compared by the data comparison and output means (6), and at the same time, the sorting basic device (3 _n-1 ) is a status signal indicating that input is possible
(9) is sent, and the next data fragment W _{31 in} the buffer memory (8 _n-1 ) in the previous stage is input and written in the memory (2) by the data writing means (4). Then, the second fragment R _{12 of} the first data is accessed and read, and the second fragment R _{22 of the} second data is accessed and read, and these are compared and at the same time, 2 of the input data is read. The th piece W ₃₂ is stored in the storage device (2). The same operation is repeated until the order of the first and second data is determined.

For example, the second fragment R ₁₂ , R of both data
For the remaining fragments after the third one after the superiority of the first data is determined by the comparison of ₂₂ , the data read means (5) reads only the first data and the data comparison output means.
It is switched to the writing of the input data by the data writing means (4) which is performed at the same time as the output of the data by (6), and thereafter, as shown in FIG. 3, R ₁₃ , W ₃₃ , R ₁₄ , W ₃₄ ,
.. is repeated, and output of one data to the buffer storage device (8) and storage of one input data to the storage device (2) are completed. In this way, after the data to be output is determined, the data that has lost the comparison is not read from the storage device (2), so that the access time is shortened and the processing time is shortened.

As is clear from the above description of the operation, the number of the fragment of the data to be compared that determines the data to be output depends on the sort processing basic device (3 _n ) of each stage, and it varies from one to the next. It is operating at the processing speed. Therefore, the data output from the comparison processing device (1 _n ) at each stage is temporarily stored in the buffer storage device (8 _n ) at that stage, and the sorting processing basic device (3 _{n + 1} ) at the next stage receives the data. According to the status signal (9) sent when possible, the buffer memory (8 _n ) is output to the next-stage sort processing basic device (3 _{n + 1} ) according to the first-in first-out method.

Example 2. In the above embodiment, the case of comparing and outputting two data has been described, but in the case of comparing and outputting three or more data, the read access of the data from the storage device after the comparison determination can be similarly reduced. ..

Example 3. In the above embodiment, the configuration in which the buffer storage device is connected to the output of the comparison processing device of each stage has been described. However, instead of the status signal, the sorting process basic device of the latter stage temporarily operates the operation of the sorting process basic device of the preceding stage. It is also conceivable that the operation is synchronized between the basic processing devices of each stage by temporarily stopping.

Example 4. Further, in the above embodiment, the configuration in which the buffer storage device is connected to the output side of each stage of the comparison processing device has been described, but the same effect can be obtained also in the configuration in which the buffer storage device is connected to the input side of the sort processing basic device. Be done.

[0029]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, all sorts of data to be compared are determined by the data comparison / output means of the comparison processing device in each sort processing basic device until the predetermined order is determined. Since the data fragment has a predetermined rank after the rank is determined and only the fragment of the data to be output is read, the sorting processing basic device having the comparison processing device is connected in plural stages.
The number of data read accesses from the storage device after data comparison and determination is reduced, and a sort processing device capable of performing sort processing at high speed is obtained.

Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention,
Output data from the data comparison and output means of the comparison processing device of each sort processing basic device is temporarily stored, and this stored data is stored in accordance with the status signal from the comparison processing device in the next sort processing basic device. Since the buffer memory device of the first-in first-out system for outputting to the writing means is provided, even if the processing speeds of the respective sort processing basic devices are different, the sort in which the data transfer between them can be smoothly performed There is an effect that a processing device can be obtained.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a sort processing basic device that forms the basis of a sort processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an entire embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an access operation explanatory diagram showing a write and read access state to a storage device in this embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a sort processing basic device that forms the basis of a conventional sort processing device.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an entire conventional sort processing device.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a sort operation of a conventional sort processing device. ,

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of an access operation of a storage device in a conventional sort processing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 1 ₁ , 1 ₂ ... 1 ₅ Comparison processing device 2, 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ ... 2 ₅ Storage device 3, 3 ₁ , 3 ₂ ... 3 ₅ Sort processing basic device 4 Data writing means 5 Data reading means 6 Data comparison output means 7 Sort processing device 8 Buffer storage device

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[Procedure amendment]

[Submission date] February 23, 1993

[Procedure Amendment 1]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Name of item to be amended] Claims

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[Claims]

[Procedure Amendment 2]

[Document name to be amended] Statement

[Correction target item name] 0010

[Correction method] Change

[Correction content]

[0010] Figure 7 is a state the shown to operation explanatory diagram of the write and read access to a storage device (2), in FIG, R
₁₁ , R ₁₂ , R ₁₃ , R ₁₄ , ... Are the first data fragments of the two data read out for comparison, R ₂₁ , R ₂₂ ,
R ₂₃ , R ₂₄ , ... Are the second data fragments, W ₃₁ , W ₃₂ ,
W ₃₃ , W ₃₄ , ... Represent the next data fragment written at the time of comparison of the two previous data fragments. In general, the data fragment read at the j-th time of the i-th data is R _ij , and the data fragment written at the j-th time of the i-th data is Wij.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A storage device for storing comparison target data composed of a plurality of fragments, and a data writing unit for sequentially writing comparison target data from an external or preceding sort processing basic device in the storage device. Data reading means for sequentially reading the stored comparison target data for each fragment, and a plurality of comparison target data read by the data reading means for each fragment, the next comparison target by the data writing means. A sort processing device configured by combining a plurality of sort processing basic devices each having a comparison processing device having a data comparison and output means for sequentially comparing and sequentially outputting only data of a predetermined rank when writing data, The data reading means of the comparison processing device in each sort processing basic device has a plurality of comparison target data by the data comparison output device. The sorting apparatus is characterized in that all the pieces of data are read until the predetermined rank is determined, and only the pieces of the data that have the predetermined rank and are output after the rank is determined are read. 2. A storage device for storing comparison target data composed of a plurality of fragments, and a data writing means for sequentially writing the comparison target data from an external or preceding sort basic device in the storage device. Data reading means for sequentially reading the stored comparison target data for each fragment, and a plurality of comparison target data read by the data reading means for each fragment, the next comparison target by the data writing means. A sort processing device configured by combining a plurality of sort processing basic devices each having a comparison processing device having a data comparison and output means for sequentially comparing and sequentially outputting only data of a predetermined rank when writing data, The output data from the data comparison and output means of the comparison processing device of each sort processing basic device is temporarily stored, and this stored data is next stored. A sort processing basic device comprising a first-in first-out buffer memory device for outputting to a data writing means of the comparison processing device in the sorting basic device in stages.