A method and system for generating a complex signature respective of a multimedia data element (MMDE) are provided. The method includes partitioning the MMDE into a plurality of different minimum size MMDEs; generating, for each of the different minimum MMDEs, at least one signature, wherein generation of each at least one signature is performed by a plurality of computational cores, each computational core having at least one configurable property characterizing the core, and wherein configuration of the at least one configurable property respective of each core results in statistical independence among the plurality of cores; and assembling at least a complex signature for the MMDE comprised of a plurality of the generated signatures.