DIRECTORY LOOKUP METHOD AND APPARATUS

There is disclosed a spelling correction arrangement for use in directory lookup applications. The arrangement corrects errors by finding the name in the directory that most closely resembles the name requested by the user. The arrangement is based on a recursive routine that continually subdivides the problem of finding a given name in a given directory into smaller subproblems in which shorter names are to be found in smaller directories. Multiple spelling errors are easily accommodated since the technique uses the given directory of names to limit the search. The technique allows the algorithm to find the closest name in the directory without actually considering the vast majority of the names that appear in the directory.