Patent ID: 8799339

Claim:
A device for measuring similarity between a first set of items and a second set of items, comprising: a) a union block for performing a union function, having a first input for receiving the first set of items, a second input for receiving the second set of items, and having an output; b) a first function block for performing a user-definable non-linear function, having a first input connected to said first input of said union block, having a second input for receiving a dictionary of terms, and having an output; c) a second function block for performing the user-definable non-linear function, having a first input connected to said second input of said union block, having a second input connected to said second input of said first function block, and having an output; d) a third function block for performing the user-definable non-linear function, having a first input connected to said output of said union block, having a second input connected to said second input of said first function block, and having an output; e) an adder, having a first input connected to said output of said first function block, having a second input connected to said output of said second function block, and having an output; f) a subtractor, having a first input connected to said output of said third function block, having a second input connected to said output of said adder, and having an output; and g) a divider, having a first input connected to said output of said third function block, having a second input connected to said output of said subtractor, and having an output.