14. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of defining comprises setting said current search domain as a portion of said input text within a predefined number of characters following one of said locations of current string patterns.
12. A method of string search in a character stream, the method comprising: constructing a dictionary of string patterns, associating a text action, from among a set of text actions, with each string pattern; grouping said string patterns into a predefined number of ordered string sets according to predetermined criteria; acquiring an input text from said character stream; selecting a first string set as a current string set and a current search domain as the entire input text; executing a search procedure to determine locations of current string patterns belonging to said current string set within said current search domain; determining current text actions corresponding to said current string pattern; cumulatively storing said locations and said current text actions; selecting a subsequent string set according to a predetermined order of said string sets; defining a current search domain according to said locations; repeating said executing, determining, and storing for remaining string sets in said predefined number of ordered string sets; and returning to the step of acquiring.