Patent ID: 6181807
Filing Date: 2001-01-30
Classification: A61B,G06K,Y10S

Abstract:
A method for indexing and searching a plurality of data elements of a reference data group from a relatively large, selected population of data to determine if a sample data element matches one of the data elements in the reference data group, the method comprising the steps of:determining respective full entire index values for each of the plurality of data elements of the reference data group and the sample data element based upon at least one predetermined data element characteristic and with the full entire index values being substantially evenly distributed over the relatively large population of data;selecting a first subset having a plurality of data elements of the reference data group with index values in a first range relative to the full entire index value of the sample data element based upon a preselected confidence value for locating the sample data element in the first subset of reference data elements whereby the confidence value is preselected based upon the expected time of the search and the likelihood of finding a match in the first subset; andcomparing the sample data element to each data element of the first subset of the reference data group to thereby determine if there is a match between the sample data element and one of the plurality of data elements of the first subset of the reference data group.