IQ.js :: The Israeli Queue

a priority queue with the following order rule: After completion of a visit at a queue, the next queue to be served is the one where its first customer in line has been waiting in the system for the longest time. That is, the criterion for selecting the next queue to visit and serve is an age-based one. This type of service discipline was termed the Israeli Queue, illustrated vividly as follows: A new arriving customer may find in the system up to N groups, where each group is headed by a “leader.” This new arrival looks for a “friend” among all group leaders in the system. If he (“he” stands for “she” as well) finds such a leader, he joins him and his group and waits with all the group’s members to be served in a batch mode. That is, the whole group is served at one service period, while the service duration is not affected by the size of the batch. For example, this queue discipline represents a physical waiting line for buying tickets to a movie, theater, or rock-concert performance. A new arrival that finds a friend already standing in line joins him and his group. When the “leader” reaches the cashier, he buys tickets for the entire group. It is assumed that the buying process is (almost) not affected by the number of tickets purchased. http://www.math.tau.ac.il/~uriy/Papers/IQ-with-Priorities.pdf

Usage

To install: npm install israeli-queue

require

const IQ = require('israeli-queue'); let q1 = new IQ(); q1.dequeue(); // [] q1.enqueue({o:"a"}); // [{"o":"a"}] q1.enqueue({o:"c"}); // [{"o":"a"},{"o":"c"}] q1.enqueue({o:"b"}, {o:"a"}); // [{"o":"a"},{"o":"b"},{"o":"c"}] q1.peek(); // { o: 'a' } q1.length(); // 3

API

The constructor will create an in-memory Israeli queue data structure

Removes and returns the element of the priority queue which is first in line. Simply returns undefined if the priority queue is empty.

Inserts each given argument into the appropriate place in the priority queue. Returns the index of the inserted item.

Integer property which reflects the number of elements in the priority queue.

Returns the element of the priority queue which is first in line without removing it. Simply returns null if the priority queue is empty.

Returns the .toString() of an Array containing the priority queue's elements in sorted order.

Author

Dror Arazi (dror@sealights.io)

License

MIT