1. A method for determining the presence of an object of interest in a target data set, the method comprising: determining an object of interest discrete curve from information regarding the object of interest, wherein the object of interest discrete curve corresponds to the object of interest; mapping the object of interest discrete curve to a first mapped object of interest discrete curve using a first mapping operator configured according to a first set of terms; mapping the object of interest discrete curve to a second mapped object of interest discrete curve using a second mapping operator configured according to a second set of terms; acquiring the target data set; determining a target discrete curve from the target data set, wherein the target discrete curve corresponds to a respective object in the target data set; performing curve matching on the first mapped object of interest discrete curve and the target discrete curve, wherein said performing curve matching computes a distance for the target discrete curve relative to the first mapped object of interest discrete curve; performing curve matching on the second mapped object of interest discrete curve and the target discrete curve, wherein said performing curve matching computes a distance for the target discrete curve relative to the second mapped object of interest discrete curve; and generating pattern matching results based on the distances.