An information retrieval method wherein users may submit a query via a graphical bitmapping technique. The user provides an information retrieval system with a bitmap of a printed, written, or graphical query by either scanning the query with a graphical scanner, or employing a standard facsimile transmission...http://www.google.de/patents/US5970484?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5970484 - Method for retrieving texts which are similar to a sample text
