Importance

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Abstract

Data stored in an electronic memory is accessed by search electronics which permit identification and access to a selected memory location in response to a serial search character input. As each search character is input to the system, a search is made through the memory file to determine whether one or more stored data words within the memory include, at any location within the data word, a series of characters in the exact sequence of the previously input search characters. If plural stored data words include the search character sequence, the search character input process is continued until only one storage location within the memory includes the exact character sequence which has been input. The matching data word from memory is then accessed. Because the input search character sequence is compared with memory data words to determine whether an identical sequence exists anywhere within any word, information from the memory file can be accessed without fully specifying the file name and without necessarily specifying the beginning characters of the file name. This permits a substantial increase in both accessing speed and accessing convenience in the system. This file accessing system has been found to be particularly well suited to telephone directory searching and automatic telephone dialing equipment.

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First Claim