International Business Machines Corporation
Hierarchical sort/merge structure using a request pipe

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.