PROCESSING DATA TO MAINTAIN AN ESTIMATE OF A RUNNING MEDIAN

A method, apparatus and software are disclosed for simulating a running median value for a set of input data values, and for simulating a selected percentile value other than the median. A current estimated value is compared to an input data value. If the input data value is greater than the current estimated value, the current estimated value is increased in accordance with a first adjustment function. If the input data value is less than the current estimated value, the current estimated value is decreased in accordance with the second adjustment function. Different adjustment functions are disclosed for increasing or decreasing the current estimated value. The magnitude of each increase or decreases provided by an adjustment function is independent of the magnitude of the difference between the current input data value and the current estimated value.