Replacing a hash function if a second hash function is more effective

摘要

A vector 102 is processed with an active hash function 104 and a test hash function 204. It is stored in an active hash table 108 and a test hash table 208. The test hash table is smaller than the active hash table. If the test function is more effective than the active function, the test function replaces the active function. The effectiveness of the hash function may be calculated by determining how many entries in the hash table a hash value matches. The hash functions may be implemented using configurable hash bit logic units, which each generate one bit of the hash value. In this case, the first function is replaced by reconfiguring the units. After replacement, a mask may be used to indicate which of the table entries were produced using the old function. The vector may be a computer memory address.