Abstract: A non-numeric coprocessor for fuzzy information retrieval and pattern recognition has means for information processing and is connectable to a host computer and a data source. A plurality of internal processing elements are organized in a number of simultaneously operable window modules (W0, W1, . . . ) a arranged for inspecting data streams from said source. The processing elements compare data stream bytes with predetermined upper and lower bounds, to decide whether a byte is within said bounds, and, if so, to produce a hit signal. Each window module has a window match logic for correlating hit signals from its different processing elements, and to produce a window match signal, by the occurrence of a predefined match.