The problem sounds manageable until you realize there are a bunch of edge cases around how the two signal types interact near interval boundaries.
Start by clarifying the problem: define the two signal types, the conditions for valid intervals, and the expected output format. Then outline a class design that ingests signals, maintains state, and computes continuous intervals using an event-driven or sweep-line approach. Discuss trade-offs between different data structures and algorithms, and consider edge cases and scalability.
Pro tip: Demonstrate awareness of real-world constraints like out-of-order signals, clock skew, and memory limits, and propose a streaming solution that handles them. Also, mention how you would test the class with unit tests covering edge cases.
Ask questions to understand the signal types, the conditions for intervals, and the expected output. Confirm whether signals arrive in order, if intervals can overlap, and the required time/space complexity.
Design classes or structs to represent signals and intervals. Decide on the internal state needed to track active intervals and signal history.
Select an approach such as sweep-line, event-driven, or interval merging. Explain how it processes signals to produce continuous intervals satisfying the conditions.
Address scenarios like out-of-order signals, simultaneous events, empty inputs, and overlapping intervals. Describe how the design ensures correctness.
Discuss time and space complexity, and propose optimizations for scalability, such as streaming or incremental processing.
AI-generated suggestions, not part of the candidate's original notes. May be inaccurate — verify before relying on them.