Abstract: A search server provides a user address to an information source, to effect an access of the information source by the user. The user sends a request to the search server, and the search server identifies an address (URL) of an information source corresponding to the request. The request may be a verbal request, or model data corresponding to a verbal request, and the search server may include a speech recognition system. Thereafter, the search server communicates a request to the identified information source, using the user's address as the “reply-to address” for responses to this request. The user's address may be the address of the device that the user used to communicate the initial request, or the address of another device associated with the user.

Abstract: Preliminary classification of a text character by examining a few of its PELs rather than requiring repeated comparisons of the entire pattern with a large set of prototypes is achieved by following a path through a decision tree in a root-to-leaf node direction. Each tree node specifies the location of a PEL in the character and the input pattern PEL value in turn determines the next branch to follow in the tree. The root node identifies the first PEL to be inspected while the final leaf indicates the class selected. The library pattern and inputs are compared. Upon match, an index number is generated and the next pattern processed. Upon a mismatch, the pattern will be registered as a new prototype in the library, the tree extended to include the new class, and the next pattern will be processed.