Abstract: A system having a device for comparing incoming data with hypotheses prevsly formed from prior data for providing new hypotheses on target information. It has application when the data source is from either single or multiple targets. The incoming datum to the system forms new hypotheses assuming the incoming datum is invalid, forms new hypotheses assuming the new datum begins a new segment of information, and forms new hypotheses assuming the new datum is associated with segments in prior retained hypotheses. The one hypothesis of the thusly formed new hypotheses with the greatest likelihood of target information is then selected for further analyzation and the hypothesis selected and other hypotheses are retained for further processing with new incoming datum.