Audio signal recognition computer

Claim 1

Apparatus for identifying signal patterns by comparing plural data elements identifying such patterns with plural data elements identifying a stored reference pattern, comprising: a first buffer storing said plural data elements identifying signal patterns; a second buffer storing said plural data elements identifying a reference pattern; a first register for storing locations in said first buffer at which said plural data elements identifying signal patterns begin; a second register for storing locations in said first buffer at which said plural data elements identifying signal patterns end; first addressing means for writing plural data elements identifying said signal pattens into said first buffer, in sequential order, as said plural data elements are received; means for determining whether said first buffer contains the plural data elements for a complete signal pattern; second addressing means responsive to said determining means for reading plural data elements identifying said signal patterns from said first buffer at a time when the plural data elements for a complete signal pattern are stored in said first buffer, said second addressing means operating in response to the locations stored in said first and second registers, said reading performed on a time shared basis time independently from said writing operation performed by said first addressing means such that the new writing operations do not have to be delayed until previously written data is read and compared with said reference patterns; and means for comparing said plural data elements read by said second addressing means with data elements stored in said second buffer.