1. A textual comparison system for locating desired character strings within textual material formed from a predefined sequence of characters comprising: means for sequentially receiving a plurality of stored textual characters; means for sequentially decoding said plurality of stored textual characters, thereby providing a sequence of decoded characters, said means for decoding said stored textual characters having a plurality of N output leads, where N is an integer equal to the number of unique textual characters which are to be decoded; each said N output leads being uniquely associated with one of said textual characters to be decoded, where the unique one of said N output leads associated with the specific character being decoded provides a signal when the textual character associated with said output lead has been decoded; means for storing said decoded characters and information as to the relative positioning of said decoded characters within said predefined sequence of characters; means for comparing said decoded characters and said information as to the relative positioning of said decoded characters with information defining said desired character strings, whereby the presence of desired character strings is determined; and means for providing a signal indicating that a desired character string has been located.
1. A textual comparison system for locating desired character strings within textual material formed from a predefined sequence of characters comprising: means for sequentially receiving a plurality of stored textual characters; means for sequentially decoding said plurality of stored textual characters, thereby providing a sequence of decoded characters, said means for decoding said stored textual characters having a plurality of N output leads, where N is an integer equal to the number of unique textual characters which are to be decoded; each said N output leads being uniquely associated with one of said textual characters to be decoded, where the unique one of said N output leads associated with the specific character being decoded provides a signal when the textual character associated with said output lead has been decoded; means for storing said decoded characters and information as to the relative positioning of said decoded characters within said predefined sequence of characters; means for comparing said decoded characters and said information as to the relative positioning of said decoded characters with information defining said desired character strings, whereby the presence of desired character strings is determined; and means for providing a signal indicating that a desired character string has been located. 2. Structure as in claim 1 wherein said means for storing said decoded characters and information as to the relative positioning of said decoded characters comprises a plurality of N shift registers, where N is an integer equal to the number of unique textual characters which are to be decoded, and where each of said plurality of N shift registers is associated with a unique one of said N textual characters.