Optimize find_intersections for closed intervals

src/interval_sets.jl

@@ -521,3 +521,55 @@ function find_intersections_helper!(result, x, y, lt)
 
     return unique!.(result)
 end
+
+function find_intersections(
+    x::AbstractVector{<:AbstractInterval{T1,Closed,Closed}},
+    y::AbstractVector{<:AbstractInterval{T2,Closed,Closed}},
+) where {T1,T2}
+    # Strategy:
+    # two binary searches per interval `I` in `x`
+    # * identify the set of intervals in `y` that start during-or-after `I`
+    # * identify the set of intervals in `y` that stop before-or-during `I`
+    # * intersect them
+    starts = first.(y)
+    starts_perm = sortperm(starts)
+    starts_sorted = starts[starts_perm]
+
+    # Sneaky performance optimization (makes a huge difference!)
+    # Rather than sorting `stops` relative to `y`, we sort it relative to `starts`.
+    # This allows us to work in the `starts` frame of reference until the very end.
+    # In particular, when we intersect the sets of intervals obtained from starts and from stops,
+    # the `starts` set can be kept as a `UnitRange`, making the intersection *much* faster.
+    stops = last.(y[starts_perm])
+    stops_perm = sortperm(stops)
+    stops_sorted = stops[stops_perm]
+    len = length(stops_sorted)
+
+    results = Vector{Vector{Int}}(undef, length(x))
+    for (i, I) in enumerate(x)
+        # find all the starts which occur before or at the end of `I`
+        idx_first = searchsortedlast(starts_sorted, last(I); lt=(<))
+        if idx_first < 1
+            results[i] = Int[]
+            continue
+        end
+
+        # find all the stops which occur at or after the start of `I`
+        idx_last = searchsortedfirst(stops_sorted, first(I); lt=(<))
+        if idx_last > len
+            results[i] = Int[]
+            continue
+        end
+
+        # Working in "starts" frame of reference
+        starts_before_or_during = 1:idx_first
+        stops_during_or_after = @view stops_perm[idx_last:end]
+
+        # Intersect them
+        r = intersect(starts_before_or_during, stops_during_or_after)
+
+        # *Now* go back to y's sorting order, post-intersection.
+        results[i] = starts_perm[r]
+    end
+    return results
+end