Abstract: A deletion method and apparatus for deleting search keys from a data structure stored in the computer storage system comprising a compact multi-way search tree structure. The method deletes in bulk search keys based on the lexical position of the search keys, thereby avoiding repetition searches for search keys requested for deletion.

Abstract: A system and a method using a computer for performing a boolean operation on bit strings to form a resultant bit string. Each such bit string is divided into input bit slices. The resultant bit string is divided into a resultant bit slices. An action is determined according to the boolean operation based on a first such input bit slice from a first such bit string and on a second such input bit slice from a second such bit string. The input bit slice with a longer bit length is selected from between the first input bit slice and the second input bit slice. The longer input bit slice and a plurality of the input bit slices in the bit string having the input bit slice with a shorter bit length are processed according to the determined action for up to a number of bits in at least one such bit string equaling the longer bit length to form at least one such resultant bit slice.

Abstract: A method of processing bit vectors or raw bit strings wherein the bit vectors or raw bit strings are input to a binary tree structure of processing elements. Each processing element performs a boolean "OR" operation on a pair of inputs to produce an output stream of compressed bit string fragments. Processing takes place according to dataflow principles, wherein the processing element is activated when data is available at its inputs. The output compressed bit string fragments are buffered in a FIFO before being input to another processing element at a lower level of the binary tree. A resultant bit vector or raw bit string is output from the processing element representing the root node of the binary tree. The resultant bit vector or raw bit string is a representation of the result of the boolean "OR" of all inputs.

Abstract: A computer storage system and processing method for indexing and accessing data stored in the computer storage system, comprising a compact multi-way search tree structure. The method employs a B-tree like search algorithm that is independent of key type or key length because all keys in index blocks are encoded by a log2 M bit surrogate, where M is the maximal key length. A buffer consisting of a sorted list of key values can be directly transformed into a representation of a C0-tree.

Abstract: A computer storage system and processing method for indexing and accessing data stored in the computer storage system, comprising a compact multi-way search tree structure. The method employs a B-tree like search algorithm that is independent of key type or key length because all keys in index blocks are encoded by a log.sub.2 M bit surrogate, where M is the maximal key length. A buffer consisting of a sorted list of key values can be directly transformed into a representation of a C.sub.0 -tree.

Abstract: A construction for a battery of coke ovens and to a method for repairing m in which a continuous vertical joint plane is provided in the walls of the piers separating the ovens of the batteries, which walls are constructed of courses and headers and stretchers, the plane extending along one of the lateral faces of the headers, with one of the two adjacent stretchers of the course immediately above and below the header being longer than the other stretchers in the wall and the other being shorter so that the joint between them is located in the same vertical plane as the said faces of the headers.