Parallel text matching methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for matching signals representing a line of printed alphanumeric characters with a given pattern of test signals representing a canonical string of printed characters comprisingmeans for storing said line of character representing signals,means for storing said pattern of test signals,a plurality of alphanumeric character recognition cells equal in number to the number of said characters in said line,means for applying each one of said character signals from said line to a respective one of said cells,means for sequentially applying each of said pattern test signals to all of said cells, andmeans for detecting the sequential matching to said pattern test signals in successive ones of said cells.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Pattern-matching circuitry is shown which permits the simultaneous or near simultaneous matching of entire lines of text to a regular expression test pattern. A synchronous or clocked embodiment is disclosed, as well as an asynchronous embodiment.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for matching signals representing a line of printed alphanumeric characters with a given pattern of test signals representing a canonical string of printed characters comprising
means for storing said line of character representing signals, means for storing said pattern of test signals, a plurality of alphanumeric character recognition cells equal in number to the number of said characters in said line, means for applying each one of said character signals from said line to a respective one of said cells, means for sequentially applying each of said pattern test signals to all of said cells, and means for detecting the sequential matching to said pattern test signals in successive ones of said cells.
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9. The method matching an entire line of input alphanumeric text signals with a given pattern of alphanumeric test signals comprising the steps of
(1) storing said given pattern of test signals, (2) comparing each of said test signals simultaneously with all of said input text signals, (3) generating a pattern-matching signal in response to a sequence of test signal matches in successive input text signal comparisons, and (4) initiating a new line-matching cycle by obtaining another line of input text signals in response to said pattern-matching signal.
Specification