Methods and apparatus teach a digital spectrum of a file. The digital spectrum is used to map a file's position. This position relative to another file's position reveals closest neighbors. When multiple such neighbors are arranged, first “patterns” of data are created that further define digital spectrums of new files. It is within this sorted new data that emergent relationships or second “patterns” are examined, according to the techniques for its underlying files, or “patterns of patterns.” Representatively, original files are stored on computing devices. If encoded, they have pluralities of symbols representing an underlying data stream of original bits of data. The original files are examined for relationships between each of the files. The original relationships are converted to new files. The new files are representatively encoded and examined for other relationships. The new files are then grouped or differentiated from one another based these new relationships yielding insight into how the original files can be grouped or differentiated.