8. Apparatus for generating at least one abstract that is useful during information searching and retrieval procedures, comprising: 1. means for sensing information comprising individual words in a selected language, each word comprising one or more individual characters; 2. means for categorizing selected ones only of the characters in said words into predefined character groups that are based on a probability distribution of characters in the language selected; 3. means for maintaining a count of the number of characters categorized into each of said predefined character groups; 4. means for converting said count to a compressed apparatus-compatible abstract code form; 5. and means for storing said compressed abstract code as an abstract of said information.
8. Apparatus for generating at least one abstract that is useful during information searching and retrieval procedures, comprising: 1. means for sensing information comprising individual words in a selected language, each word comprising one or more individual characters; 2. means for categorizing selected ones only of the characters in said words into predefined character groups that are based on a probability distribution of characters in the language selected; 3. means for maintaining a count of the number of characters categorized into each of said predefined character groups; 4. means for converting said count to a compressed apparatus-compatible abstract code form; 5. and means for storing said compressed abstract code as an abstract of said information. 9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising: 6. means for providing an inquiry of information comprising at least an individual inquiry word in a selected language said word comprising one or more individual characters; 7. means for categorizing selected ones only of characters in said inquiry into predefined character groups that are based on a probability distribution of characters in the language selected; 8. means for maintaining a count of the number of characters in said inquiry categorized into each of said predefined character groups; 9. means for reconverting said abstract count from compressed form to a character group count form like said inquiry count; 10. means for comparing said inquiry count with said abstract count; and 11. means providing an indication of a match or mismatch of said abstract and inquiry counts.