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US 4,550,436 AGranted
Parallel text matching methods and apparatus
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsMartin Freeman, Leon S. Levy
Life of this patent
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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.
Claims11
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.
3 more elements
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.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.