Pattern recognition is the construction of algorithms to decode and recognize images or data patterns in so-called random data. It is a vital and growing field with applications in artifical intelligence, machine learing, data mining, speech recognition, bioinformatics, and computer vision. "...provides information needed to choose the most appropriate of the many available technique for a given class of problems." (SciTech Book News, Vol. 25, No. 2, June 2001) "This book is the unique text/professional reference for any serious student or worker in the field of pattern recognition." (Mathematical Reviews, Issue 2001k) "...strongly recommended both as a professional reference and as a text for students..." (Technometrics, February 2002) "...gives a systematic overview about the major topics in pattern recognition, based whenever possible on fundamental principles." (Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 968, 2001/18) "attractively presented and readable" (Journal of Classification, Vol.18, No.2 2001)