Figure 3

The multivalence loop within the subpattern attempt. Length-ambiguous subpatterns may lead to different subsolutions. A loop of subpattern attempts, the so-called multivalence loop, is initiated to iteratively find all subsolutions sharing the start position. Subpattern 2 is length-ambiguous in the schema shown. Initially the subpattern is attempted to be matched to the target sequence with its maximal size (a). Then this sequence is diminished by one position ("-1") with respect to the end of the previous subsolution (shaded stretches) to investigate, if also smaller subsolutions can be found (b, c). Note: The indicated start of subpattern 3 is only valid for subsolution 2(a). Since subsolutions are required to be directly adjacent, subsolutions 2(b) or 2(c) would require a subsolution 3 to begin immediately downstream.