PROBABILISTIC LEARNING ELEMENT

A probabilistic learning element for performing task independent sequential pattern recognition. The element receives sequences of objects and outputs sequences of recognized states composed of objects. A plurality of memory elements are utilized to store received objects in sequence and for storing in context learned information including previously learned states, objects contained in previously learned states, positional information for each object in a learned state and other predetermined types of knowledge relating to previously learned states and objects contained therein. The element correlates sequences of received objects with learned information relating to previously learned states for providing conditional probabilities to possible sequences of recognized states. The most likely state sequence is determined and outputted as a recognized sequence when the element detects that a state has ended. The memory for storing learned information is a context organized memory including a plurality of tree structures having various types of information stored in nodes thereof with certain of the tree structures including at each node an attribute list referring to other tree structures whereby searching is facilitated and unnecessary searching eliminated. The element derives support coefficients relating to how much information was available when calculating conditional probabilities and support coefficients and conditional probabilities are combined to provide a rating of confidence. When the rating of confidence exceeds a predetermined level, the element is caused to store the outputted recognized state sequence as a learned state sequence with the memories storing various types of knowledge relating to the learned sequence of states.