SORTING FOR CHEMICAL GROUPS USING GORDON KENDALL-DAVISON CIPHERS.

Existing methods of sorting for all compounds containing a specified chemical group, require ad hoc coding of all such groups; the limitations and disadvantages of these methods are briefly discussed. A new and completely general solution is proposed, using no coding other than the Gordon-Kendall-Davison (GKD) ciphers for the compounds. The Electronic Structural Correlator (ESC) which is proposed for this purpose consists of a high-speed, sequence-controlled electronic digital computer coupled to punched card reading and sorting equipment. The logical and computing programmes for ESC are given in sufficient detail that only simple, logical and arithmetic operations are involved. Such a computer is shown to be somewhat smaller than general-purpose computers and the time required to carry out the various operations is discussed. Average sorting times should be comparable with those of simple accounting type sorters. In addition to sorting for groups, ESC could detect cipher errors (and correct seniority errors), automatically expand contracted forms and carry out computations of additive properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]