1. Apparatus for the classification of patterns, comprising: unclassified representation generating means for generating a representation of at least part of a function of a position-invariant transform of each unclassified pattern presented thereto; transform function representation element value signal set producing means for producing from each of said unclassified representations a set of element value signals each of which represents the value of a property of one of a predetermined constellation of elements thereof; and correlating means for correlating each set of said transform function representation element value signals with at least one set of reference signals; said elements of said unclassified representations being selected in accordance with a statistical property of a plurality of reference representations each of which represents at least part of said function of said position-invariant transform of a reference pattern, and each one of said plurality of reference patterns being a member of a subset of said plurality of reference patterns all of the members of which are cosignificative and also being a member of a subset of said plurality of reference patterns all of the members of which are co-original.
1. Apparatus for the classification of patterns, comprising: unclassified representation generating means for generating a representation of at least part of a function of a position-invariant transform of each unclassified pattern presented thereto; transform function representation element value signal set producing means for producing from each of said unclassified representations a set of element value signals each of which represents the value of a property of one of a predetermined constellation of elements thereof; and correlating means for correlating each set of said transform function representation element value signals with at least one set of reference signals; said elements of said unclassified representations being selected in accordance with a statistical property of a plurality of reference representations each of which represents at least part of said function of said position-invariant transform of a reference pattern, and each one of said plurality of reference patterns being a member of a subset of said plurality of reference patterns all of the members of which are cosignificative and also being a member of a subset of said plurality of reference patterns all of the members of which are co-original. 10. Apparatus for the classification of patterns as claimed in claim 1 in which said reference patterns are handwritten numerals.