1. A computer-implemented method for producing an object signature for an object, wherein the object comprises a set of features, the method comprising: initializing a k-dimensional state vector {s 1 , s 2 ,. .. , s k } containing floating-point numbers; for each occurrence of each feature in the object, computing a random-number seed from the feature; generating k pseudo-random floating-point numbers {X 1 , X 2 ,. .. , X k } using the random-number seed, wherein each X i (iε[1, k]) is generated in accordance with an α-stable distribution, wherein 1≦α<2; and updating each floating-point number s i in the k-dimensional state vector using an associated pseudo-random floating-point number X i ; and producing the object signature for the object by condensing the k-dimensional state vector, wherein using an α-stable distribution with 1≦α<2 reduces the influence of multiple occurrences of a given feature on the object signature, wherein the object signature provides an abstract representation for the object with reduced memory requirement; storing the object signature in place of the object in a storage device; and using the object signature in place of the object during object operations.