Search for strings matching the pattern “abc:*:xyz” in less than O(n)

Question

Given a bunch of strings I need to find those which match 3 kinds of patterns:

• Prefix search - abc*
• Glob-like pattern - abc:*:xyz
• Suffix sear

Answer 1

Generate rotations of each word and put each rotation in a suffix tree with indication of "rotation index'.

For example, to put the string "hello", put

hello, 0
elloh, 1
llohe, 2
lohel, 3
ohell, 4

Also, you put "hero" as

hero, 0
eroh, 1
rohe, 2
oher, 3

Also, you put "ohe" (don't ask me what's ohe)

ohe, 0
heo, 1
eoh, 2

Then, if you need to search for pattern "he*o", you need to rotate it until you get a prefixed string: "ohe*"

In the suffix tree you find the candidates: (ohell, 4), (oher, 3), (ohe, 0). Then you restore their original versions (by un-rotating them) and pick the right ones - "hello" and "hero".