Pattern-matching system

A method of pattern-matching characters in a stream of received characters, the method comprising:

• storing at least one of a plurality of characters in a character processing unit comprising means for storing characters;
• selectively providing at least one of a plurality of characters from a received input character stream of a document to the character processing unit;
• controlling the character processing unit to compare a received input character with at least one of the characters stored by the character processing unit;
• assessing characters in the received input character stream and then selectively controlling and using the character processing unit according to the assessing;
• receiving feedback from the character processing unit as to whether the characters from the received input character stream match the characters stored by the character processing unit;
• and
• parsing the document based on the feedback received.

A method of pattern-matching characters in a stream of received characters, the method comprising:

• receiving an input character stream of a document at a programmable state machine;
• the programmable state machine controlling a character processing unit that has stored at least one of a plurality of characters to compare characters in the received input character stream with a character or characters stored by the character processing unit;
• using the programmable state machine to assess the characters in the received input character stream and then selectively controlling and using the character processing unit according to the assessing;
• using the programmable state machine to receive feedback from the character processing unit as to whether the characters from the received input character stream match the characters stored by the character processing unit;
• and
• using the programmable state machine to parse the document based on the feedback received.

A program storage device readable by a digital processing apparatus and having a program of instructions which are tangibly embodied on the storage device and which are executable by the processing apparatus to perform a method of transporting packets of data, wherein each packet is assigned a number of priorities, the method comprising:

• storing at least one of a plurality of characters in a character processing unit comprising means for storing characters;
• selectively providing at least one of a plurality of characters from a received input character stream of a document to the character processing unit;
• controlling the character processing unit to compare a received input character with at least one of the characters stored by the character processing unit;
• assessing characters in the received input character stream and then selectively controlling and using the character processing unit according to the assessing;
• receiving feedback from the character processing unit as to whether the characters from the received input character stream match the characters stored by the character processing unit;
• and
• parsing the document based on the feedback received.