Importance

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for high-speed searching of a byte stream for predetermined words or terms. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for use in combination with a data source supplying a stream of binary signals defining both the identities of alphanumeric characters occurring in an ordered sequence and the position of each such character within a character group for detecting the occurrence of a particularly ordered group of R characters. The apparatus preferably includes a search memory means comprised of multiple (N) sets of R storage locations each of which includes S bit stages, each bit stage being capable of storing a '1' or '0' state. R represents the number of characters within a character group and S represents the number of different characters that can be identified. Each of the R storage locations may store one or more '0' bits, the position of each '0' bit identifying a particular character. A first decoding means is provided responsive to the position within a character group of each character defined by the binary signals for addressing a corresponding one of the R locations. A second decoding means is provided responsive to the identity of each character defined by the binary signals for addressing a particular one of the S bit stages within the addressed location. The addressing of a stage storing a '1' generates a word mismatch signal.

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First Claim