1. A method for classifying objects, the method comprising: using a plurality of hash tables to associate a class value for each one of a plurality of classes to each one of a plurality of attribute patterns and to determine a discriminating power for each attribute pattern, each attribute pattern comprising a set of identified attributes associated with an object and each class in the plurality of classes used in classifying the object; identifying attribute patterns having a discriminatory power above a pre-defined threshold; and using the identified attribute patterns having a discriminatory power above the pre-defined threshold to assign a class to the object.