Searching method for association matrix - by searching nodes of matrix in parallel using associative searching appts.

摘要

The method involves searching for relationships between a selected and other objects in an association matrix, each object being represented by both a row and a column of the matrix. Each relationship is predefined and associated with one of the axes of the matrix, the existence of a relationship between objects being signified by a 1 at the intersection of the row of one object and the column of another object. - The method involves identifying the row and column position of a selected object to be searched in the matrix, and searching in parallel each row under the column identified with the selected object or searching each column in a row identified with the selected object to identify one of the predetermined relationships between the selected object and the other objects.