Data parallel implementation of extensible sparse functional arrays

Abstract

Three important generalised array structures — extensible arrays, sparse arrays and functional arrays — are slow to access unless their use is severely restricted. All three can be combined in a powerful new active data structure called 'ESF arrays'. ESF arrays may grow or shrink dynamically, they can be searched quickly, and changes to them can be rolled back in a single operation. A new data parallel algorithm implements every operation on an ESF array in a small constant time, without placing any restrictions on the use of those operations. The algorithm is suitable both for massively parallel architectures and for VLSI implementation.