Modern pattern recognition techniques are applied to achieve high quality automatic processing of Digisonde ionograms. An artificial neural network (ANN) was found to be a promising technique for ionospheric echo tracing. A modified rotor model was tested to construct the Hopfield ANN with the mean field theory updating scheme. Tests of the models against various ionospheric data showed that the modified rotor model gives good results where conventional tracing techniques have difficulties. Use of the ANN made it possible to implement a robust scheme of trace interpretation that considers local trace inclination angles available after ANN completes tracing. The interpretation scheme features a new algorithm for f0F1 identification that estimates an α angle for the trace segments in the vicinity of the critical frequency f0F1. First results from off-line tests suggest the potential of implementing new operational autoscaling software in the worldwide Digisonde network. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1996