1. A method of using partial order descriptions to identify functions of motifs in a data set, comprising the steps of: obtaining the data set, wherein the data set is comprised of a series of data elements; identifying a plurality of sequences of motifs in the data set, each of the sequences of motifs comprising a repeating pattern of a plurality of the date elements of the data set; for each of the sequences of motifs, identifying a partial order description of the motifs in said each sequence of the motifs; and using the identified partial order descriptions of the sequences of motifs to identify functions of the motifs; and using a processing unit, implementing a partial order identifying program, to perform the steps of identifying a plurality of sequences of motifs, and identifying a partial order description of the motifs in each sequence of the motifs.