Method for sorting vector data on the basis of partial vectors and vector processor

摘要

A vector processor is provided for nonnumeric processing, and more particularly for performing a sort method which performs sorting at a high speed. It is an object to provide a method for sorting, by vector processing, keys whose lengths are longer than a sortable given length determined by the vector processor. In the sort method, partial keys of the keys which are equal in length to the given length are extracted and they are sorted by the vector processing. If there are partial keys of the same value as a result of the sorting, the succeeding partial keys of those partial keys having the same value are extracted and they are sorted. In this manner, the sorting of the original keys is permitted. The vector processor is provided with circuits for extracting the partial keys, sorting and detecting the partial keys having the same value in the sorted partial keys, all by vector processing.