Oracle Corporation
Method for vectorizing d-heaps using horizontal aggregation SIMD instructions

Abstract:

Techniques for maintaining d-heap property and speeding up retrieval operations, such as top or pop, by vectorizing the d-heap and utilizing horizontal aggregation SIMD instructions across the retrieval operations. A d-heap is vectorized by storing it in a contiguous memory array containing a beginning-most side and end-most side. Horizontal aggregation SIMD instructions are utilized to aggregate the values of the vectorized d-heap. Thus, the number of comparisons required in order to find the maximum or minimum key value within a single node of the d-heap is reduced resulting in faster retrieval operations.