31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the inexact pattern is specified to include one or more pattern characters that are members of a specified set of characters, a first of the commands comprises a bitcheck command embodying the specified set of characters, and the processing comprises: executing the bitcheck command in a first of the co-processors to generate a compliance signal indicating whether a selected input character is a member of the specified set of characters.
31. The method of claim 28 , wherein the inexact pattern is specified to include one or more pattern characters that are members of a specified set of characters, a first of the commands comprises a bitcheck command embodying the specified set of characters, and the processing comprises: executing the bitcheck command in a first of the co-processors to generate a compliance signal indicating whether a selected input character is a member of the specified set of characters. 32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the first co-processor is optimized to execute the bitcheck command.