Patent ID: 6021211
Filing Date: 2000-02-01
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 reference index values being sorted in either a numerically ascending or descending order and substantially evenly distributed over the relatively large population of data;selecting a first subset having a plurality of data elements of the sorted reference data group, the first subset having index values in a first range relative to the full entire index value of the sample data element, the first subset also having substantially fewer data elements than the reference data group;comparing 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; andselecting a second subset having a plurality of sorted data elements of the reference data group if a match is not found in the step of comparing to the first subset of the reference data group, the second subset having a second expanded range of full entire index values larger than the first range so that the second expanded range extends at least immediately above and below the first range.