Worst-case optimal priority queues via extended regular counters

Abstract

We consider the classical problem of representing a collection of priority queues under the operations find-min, insert, decrease, meld, delete, and delete-min. In the comparison-based model, if the first four operations are to be supported in constant time, the last two operations must take at least logarithmic time. Brodal showed that his worst-case efficient priority queues achieve these worst-case bounds. Unfortunately, this data structure is involved and the time bounds hide large constants. We describe a new variant of the worst-case efficient priority queues that relies on extended regular counters and provides the same asymptotic time and space bounds as the original. Due to the conceptual separation of the operations on regular counters and all other operations, our data structure is simpler and easier to describe and understand. Also, the constants in the time and space bounds are smaller. © 2012 Springer-Verlag.