It is well known that matched filtering techniques cannot be applied for
searching extensive parameter space volumes for continuous gravitational wave
signals. This is the reason why alternative strategies are being pursued.
Hierarchical strategies are best at investigating a large parameter space when
there exist computational power constraints. Algorithms of this kind are being
implemented by all the groups that are developing software for analyzing the
data of the gravitational wave detectors that will come online in the next
years. In this talk we will report about the hierarchical Hough transform
method that the GEO 600 data analysis team at the Albert Einstein Institute is
developing. The three step hierarchical algorithm has been described elsewhere.
In this talk we will focus on some of the implementational aspects we are
currently concerned with.Comment: 9 pages, 1 figure. To appear in the proceedings of the conference
``Gravitational waves: a challenge to theoretical astrophysics'', (June 5-9
2000, Trieste), ICTP Lecture Notes Serie
