Data structure for efficient access to variable-size data objects

Abstract

A data structure includes variable-size data objects [“VSDOs”] and enables selective and efficient retrieval of data in particular VSDOs. The data structure includes multiple packets. Each packet includes a reference count field, a references field, and an objects field. The references field stores references to VSDOs within the data structure. The reference count field indicates the number of references stored in the references field. The objects field stores the actual VSDOs. To access a particular VSDO, an accessing unit traverses the reference count fields of the multiple packets until the accessing unit finds a packet that includes the reference to the particular VSDO. The accessing unit accesses the particular VSDO based upon the reference. To further improve the efficiency of an access operation, packets form metapackets. A metapacket header sums the reference count fields of the packets within the metapacket. To access a particular VSDO, an accessing unit traverses the metapacket headers until the accessing unit finds a metapacket that includes a packet having the reference to the particular VSDO. Based upon the reference, the accessing unit accesses the particular VSDO. Storing light field information in VSDOs using the data structure facilitates efficient light field operations and light field operations at selective levels of refinement.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention pertains to storage, manipulation, and transmission of variable-size data objects. A data structure that stores variable-size data objects also facilitates efficient access to the variable-size data objects. In one use, the data structure stores light field information to facilitate selective and efficient access to the light field image information. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Digital information can be represented as a series of data objects to facilitate processing and storing the digital information. For example, a digital audio or video file can be represented as a series of data objects that contain digital audio or video samples. More generally, a data object is an aggregation of digital information that is related along spatial, temporal, conceptual, or any other lines of significance. [0003] When a series of data objects represents digital information, processing the series is simplified if the data objects are equal size....

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] The present invention pertains to efficient storage, manipulation, and transmission of digital information with variable-size data objects [“VSDOs”]. A data structure contains digital information in a series of VSDOs for efficient storage and transmission of the digital infor...

Problems solved by technology

Although access to equal-size data objects in a series is relatively straightforward, in some applications, use of equal-size data objects leads to inefficient storage and transmission.

Accessing a particular VSDO within a series of VSDOs is relatively complicated, however.

Storage and transmission of light fields present difficulties due to the amount of digital information in a typical light field.

Compression of light field information can reduce the representation of the light field image information, usually at some cost to the quality of the information and the speed of accessing the information.

In addition to the considerable storage and transmission requirements for a light field, manipulation of light field images presents considerable memory and processing r...

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