1. A method of processing data vectors by locating near neighbors, said method comprising the steps of: inputting data vectors; generating a set of exemplar vectors; constructing a sorted set of exemplar vectors organized according to a search criterion; comparing one of the inputted data vectors to at least one exemplar vector of the sorted set of exemplar vectors using a matching criterion to find a first match; when a first match is found, determining a probability value based on the probability that a better match exists in the sorted set of exemplar vectors; and comparing the data vector to an additional exemplar vector if the probability value determined is greater than a predetermined probability value.