High-speed text search based on a programmable signal processor

Document retrieval systems must execute a variety of full-text search operations in a real-time environment. When the size of the textual database exceeds the GByte level, the presence of special hardware for high-speed textual pattern matching becomes essential. A text search processor is presented that uses a programmable analog signal processing device based on acoustic charge transport technology. The processor operates at 180 MHz and is capable of performing 128 character comparisons in parallel. Based on a look-up table technique, each input character is encoded on-the-fly according to some simple rules to increase the detection efficiency of the text processor. A prototype was implemented and the initial test results indicate that a variety of text search operations can be executed at throughput rates close to 90 million characters per second.<>