We consider the problem of performing predecessor searches in a bounded universe while achieving query times that depend on the distribution of queries. We obtain several data structures with various properties: in particular, we give data structures that achieve expected query times logarithmic in the entropy of the distribution of queries but with space bounded in terms of universe size, as well as data structures that use only linear space but with query times that are higher (but still sublinear) functions of the entropy. For these structures, the distribution is assumed to be known. We also consider individual query times on universe elements with general weights, as well as the case when the distribution is not known in advance.
We solve the dynamic Predecessor Problem with high probability (whp) in constant time, using only @math bits of memory, for any constant @math . The input keys are random wrt a wider class of the well studied and practically important class of @math -smooth distributions introduced in and:mat . It achieves O(1) whp amortized time. Its worst-case time is @math . Also, we prove whp @math time using only @math bits. Finally, we show whp @math time using O(n) space.