Integrated Array Linked List Data Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional data storage systems face inefficiencies in memory utilization and latency due to either fully array-based structures, which waste memory, or fully linked list-based structures, which introduce time penalties during insertion operations.

Innovation Solution

An integrated array and linked list-based structure is implemented, using a delta-based mechanism to determine data pointers, where a configurable range of unique pointers is stored in the array, and remaining pointers are stored in the linked list, allowing for efficient storage and retrieval of data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a fully array-based data structure is used for storing data, then data access speed is improved, but memory utilization deteriorates due to wastage of memory

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata access speedVSAvoidmemory utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the data structure into two segments: an array portion for storing data pointers with predictable access patterns and a linked list portion for storing remaining data pointers. This segmentation allows the system to leverage the speed advantage of arrays for frequently accessed data while using linked lists for less frequently accessed data, thereby improving overall memory utilization without sacrificing data access speed for critical operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Quantity of substance

If a fully linked list-based data structure is used for storing data, then memory utilization is improved, but insertion time increases due to traversal requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvememory utilizationVSAvoidinsertion time
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the data structure into array and linked list portions, the patent enables O(1) insertion operations in the array portion where data pointers can be directly placed at calculated indices without traversal. The linked list portion handles remaining insertions with acceptable performance, overall reducing insertion time compared to fully linked list-based structures while maintaining good memory utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent pre-allocates the array portion of the data structure with sufficient capacity to hold a significant portion of data pointers. This preliminary action allows future insertions within the array portion to be performed efficiently without requiring traversal or reallocation, thereby reducing insertion time for the most frequently accessed data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If an auxiliary array with pointers to subset of items is created in addition to linked list, then search operation speed is improved through binary search, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesearch operation speedVSAvoiddata structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the advantages of arrays and linked lists into a single hybrid data structure, eliminating the need for separate auxiliary arrays and multiple data structures. This merging reduces system complexity by consolidating functionality while maintaining the search speed benefits of arrays and the memory efficiency of linked lists in a unified structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3644196B1Systems and methods for storing data in an integrated array and linked list based structure
Publication Date: 2022.05.11 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES LTD
  • EP3644196B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3644196B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3644196B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Data processing and storage is an important part of a number of applications. Conventional data processing and storage systems utilizes either a full array structure or a full linked list structure for storing data wherein the array consumes large amount of memory and linked list provides slow processing. Thus, the conventional systems and methods are not capable of providing simultaneous optimization of memory consumption and time efficiency. The present disclosure discloses an efficient way of storing data by creating an integrated array and linked list based structure. The data is stored in the integrated array and linked list based structure by using a delta based mechanism. The delta based mechanism helps in determining the location in the integrated array and linked list based structure where the data should be stored. The present disclosure incorporates the advantages of both array and linked list structure resulting in reduced memory consumption and latency.