Abstract: A method of configuring a filter to perform pattern matching against input data is provided. The method includes receiving one or more rules, each rule including one or more field specifiers, each field specifier including a value specifier that specifies a value to be matched and a location specifier that specifies a location in the input data. For each rule of the one or more rules an empty buffer is initialized. For each field specifier the value specified by the field specifier is appended to the buffer, and the buffer contents are inserted into contents of a probabilistic data structure representing all of the field specifiers of the rule. The probabilistic data structure is configured to receive a query that includes query buffer contents determined from the input data and respond with a match status of probably present based on a predetermined probability, or definitely not present.

Abstract: A magnetic tool (10) has a probe (12) made of a material having very high permeability and a magnetic field source (14). The magnetic tool (10) has a body (18) which supports the probe (12) and the magnetic field source (14). The source (14) can be moved move within the body 18/cylinder (20). The probe (12) is in the form of a mu-metal needle formed with a sharpened point at its tip (16) and having an opposite end (26) embedded or otherwise fixed in the body (18). Therefore the tip (16) is at a fixed distance from the end of the body (18). The tool (10) is arranged to vary magnetic coupling between the magnetic field source (14) and the probe (12) between a maximum when the source (14) contacts the end (26) of the probe (12) and a minimum when the source is moved away from the probe (16).

Abstract: A method of generating a map or distribution of parameters that are a function of proton transverse relaxation time (T2) constant in a target subject to localised movement (such as in abdominal tissue) by using nuclear magnetic resonance imaging. The method compensates for localised movement, (e.g. breathing artefacts) in the imaging by spatial neighboring averaging of image intensities over a region of interest subject to the localised movement. A map or distribution of T2 parameters is then calculated over the entire region of interest. To ensure accuracy and position of the T2 values, the effects of signal level off set, instrumental drift, and noise level is incorporated into the calculations.