INFORMATION ASSOCIATION THROUGH LOGICAL FUNCTIONS DERIVED FROM LANGUAGE

• US 3,644,898 A
• Filed: 04/30/1970
• Issued: 02/22/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Paul B. Post
• Original Assignee: Paul B. Post
• Inventors: Post, Paul B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henon, Paul J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rhoads, Jan E.
• Application Number:
  US05/033,807
• Time in Patent Office: 663 Days
• Field of Search: 340/172.5
• US Class Current: 715/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/30 of unstructured textual data document management systems G06F16/93
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9014 hash tables

Abstract

In a data-processing apparatus of a new type, information consists of a plurality of triplets, each of which is a group of three words in ordinary language, selected on the basis of their mutual semantic relevance. The apparatus does not store the words themselves, but stores, for each triplet, a logical function of the internally encoded representations of the words. For any triplet, the three words are entered into the processor where each word is randomly encoded into a plurality of distinct bits, each associated with a distinct memory cell in a large collection of cells. A count is made by logical apparatus associated with each cell, and where a count of three is achieved by the successive entrance into the processor of the three words in a triplet, that cell is set into a logical 1 state and becomes a permanent part of the memory of the apparatus. Inquiry into the apparatus is based on providing two words, the apparatus in turn supplying the third word in the case where the two words have previously been entered as part of a triplet, as described above. Exemplary data handling and control apparatus is also disclosed.

Claims

1. Data processing apparatus comprising:

source means having a plurality of outputs and selectively presenting at said outputs successive groups of data signals in a sequence, each group directly corresponding to a word of language;

logical memory means comprising a plurality of cells, each of said cells responsive to a plurality of said source means outputs, each of said source means outputs related to a distinctive plurality of said cells, each of said cells responsive to receipt of a given number of data signals from said source means to assume a selected one of a plurality of memory conditions, each of said cells responsive to receipt of a distinct number of data signals from said source means and to its memory condition being other than said selected memory condition to generate an output signal; and

output means having a plurality of inputs, each of said inputs responsive to a unique plurality of said cells, each of said cells related to a different plurality of said inputs, the interconnection between said cells and said inputs being the same as the interconnection between said cells and said source means outputs, said output means responsive to said cell output signals to generate a group of data signals relating to oneS of said cells other than those generating output signals.

2. Data processing apparatus comprising:

command means to present either a store operation command manifestation or a readout operation command manifestation alternatively;

logical memory means, responsive to said command means, comprising a plurality of cells, each of said cells including means for receiving a date signal and for generating a cell output signal, each of said cells responsive to receipt of given plurality of data signals and to said store command manifestation to assume a selected one of a plurality of memory conditions, and responsive to receipt of a plurality of data signals less than said given plurality and to a memory condition other than said selected condition and to said readout command manifestation to generate said cell output signal; and

means interconnected with said logical memory means for presenting data signals representative of a number of groups of data manifestations to selected ones of said cells in dependence upon said data manifestations, said number equal to said given plurality, and responsive to said cell output signals generated by said cells to generate, in dependence upon said cell output signals, at least a group of data manifestations relating to cells other than those of said cells generating said cell output signals.

3. Data processing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said logical memory means includes a bistable device capable of assuming either one of two stable states, one of said stable states representing said selected memory condition.

4. Data processing apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said logical memory means further comprises:

counting means responsive to date signals received by said logical memory means to develop signals indicative of the number of data signals received thereby; and

means responsive to said counting means and to the signals from said command means to control the setting of said bistable device to said determinable memory condition and to generate said cell output signal.

5. Data processing apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said logical memory means includes counting means responsive to said data signals for developing signals indicative of the number of data signals received thereat.

6. Data processing apparatus comprising:

command means to present either a store operation command manifestation or a readout operation command manifestation, alternatively;

logical memory means, responsive to said command means, comprising a plurality of cells, each of said cells including means for receiving an input signal and for generating an output signal, each of said cells responsive to receipt of a given number of input signals and to said store command manifestation to assume a selected one of a plurality of memory conditions, and responsive to receipt of a plurality of input signals less than said given number and to a memory condition other than said selected memory condition and to said readout command manifestation to generate an output signal;

a set of symbol lines each of said symbol lines connected to a subset of said cells, each of said cells being in more than one of said cell subsets, whereby each of said cell subsets overlaps with at least another one but less than all of said cell subsets;

input means for presenting in a sequence of times successive ones of a plurality of groups of input signals, each group presented to ones of said symbol lines selected in coded fashion in direct dependence upon a word of language, there being at least said given number of groups in said sequence; and

means responsive to said output signals on said symbol lines to generate, in dependence upon said output signals, data signals coded to represent at least a portion of a word of language in direct dependence, conversely to the direct dependence in said input means, to ones of said symbol lines other than those having output signals.

7. Data processing apparatus compRising:

command means to present either a store operation command manifestation or a readout operation command manifestation alternatively;

logical memory means, responsive to said command means, comprising a plurality of cells, each of said cells including means for receiving an input signal and for generating an output signal, each of said cells responsive to receipt of a given number of input signals and to said store command manifestation to assume a selected one of a plurality of memory conditions, and responsive to receipt of a particular number of input signals, less than said given number, and to a memory condition other than said selected memory condition and to said readout command manifestation to generate an output signal;

a set of symbol means;

input means responsive to said command means for presenting in sequence of times preceding one of said operation command manifestations successive ones of a plurality of groups of input signals, each group presented to ones of said symbol means selected in coded fashion in direct dependence upon a word of language, there being at least said particular number of groups in said sequence related to a readout operation and at least said given number of groups in said sequence related to a store operation;

means for interrelating said set of symbol means and said cells, each of said symbol means related to a subset of said cells, an input signal at one of said symbol means causing an input signal at each cell of the related subset of cells, each of said cells being in more than one of said cell subsets, whereby each of said cell subsets overlaps with at least another one but less than all of said cell subsets, each of said cells related to a subset of said symbol means including each one of said symbol means related to a subset of said cells in which said cell is included, whereby the relationship between symbol input lines and cell input lines is the same as the relationship between symbol output lines and cell output lines, an output signal from one of said cells causing an output signal at each symbol means of the related subset of symbol means; and

output means responsive to said output signals at said symbol means to generate, in dependence upon said output signals, data signals coded to represent at least a portion of a word of language in direct dependence, conversely to the direct dependence in said input means, to ones of said symbol means other than those receiving said output signals.

8. Data processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said input means comprises symbol encoding means having portions related to corresponding components of a word of language, each of said symbol encoding means portions corresponding to a portion of said set of symbol means, each of said symbol encoding means portions selecting symbol means from among the related portion of said set of symbol means in dependence upon the component of the word related to said encoding means portion.

9. Data processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said input means comprises symbol encoding means having portions related to corresponding character positions within a word of language, each of said symbol encoding means portions corresponding to a portion of said set of symbol means, each of said symbol encoding means portions selecting a particular one of the related portion of said set of symbol means in dependence upon the character of language appearing in the position of the word related to said encoding means portion.

10. Data processing apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said input means includes:

a plurality of input word registers for storing at least said given number of words of language in a coded fashion in a sequence of character positions; and

means for comparing the data content of like character positions of each of the word registers;

said input means presenting input signals in said successive groups only to ones of said symbol means relating to character positions oF each of said registers having a data content different from those of like character positions of other ones of said registers.

11. Data processing apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said input means includes means for presenting as an additional group of one or more input signals to said symbol means, one or more signals related only to character positions of any of said registers having a data content equal to the data content of a like character position of another one of said registers.

12. Data processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said input means includes:

a plurality of input word registers, each of said registers having a given character capacity;

means receiving, serially by character, coded manifestations of characters of successive words of language for storage in related, successive ones of said registers;

means for counting characters received; and

fill means responsive to said character counting means to fill each of said registers to capacity by repeating, in sequence, character manifestations of the related word of language received thereby to the extent necessary to fill each of said input word registers to capacity.

13. Data processing apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said fill means includes a fill register adapted to receive characters in like manner as said input word registers and means for utilizing the contents of the fill register for filling each of said input word registers to capacity.

14. Data processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said output means comprises a plurality of symbol registers, one related to each of said symbol means such that an output signal at the related symbol means causes a resetting of the related symbol register, said output means including means to preset said symbol registers in timed relation with a readout operation command manifestation from said command means prior to receipt thereat of said output signals, said output means generating data signals coded to represent at least a portion of a word of language in direct dependence to ones of said symbol registers not reset by said output signals.

15. Data processing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said input means includes:

a plurality of input word registers for storing a number of words of language in a coded fashion, said number being in excess of said given number;

means receiving coded manifestations of characters of successive words of language for storage in related, successive ones of said registers;

means for counting and presenting a count manifestation of the number of words received; and

further comprising;

control means including said command means responsive to said word counting means and to store operation command manifestation to control a sequence of successive operations of said input means, each of said operations presenting, in a sequence of times therein, successive ones of at least said given number of groups of input signals, said sequence of successive operations including one operation for each distinctive group of said given number of words that can be selected from the number of words of language indicated by said count manifestation.

16. Data processing apparatus according to claim 15 wherein said control means is further responsive to a readout operation command manifestation to provide a sequence of successive operations including one operation for each distinctive group of said particular number of words that can be selected from the number of words indicated by said count manifestation;

said control means further comprising means to control the commencing of successive ones of said sequence of operations in response to a readout operation command manifestation only following completion of operation of said output means.