Method of building persistent polyhierarchical classifications based on polyhierarchies of classification criteria

Abstract

A method for providing a polyhierarchical classification includes identifying properties of objects useful for distinguishing objects under classification. A plurality of criteria are identified for specializing the identified properties. A form is chosen for attributive expressions that describe classification categories. The attributive expressions are customizable and encode compositions of object properties in terms of attributes from the plurality of criteria. A domain of applicability is identified for each criterion that is representable by attributive expressions, and a dependence relationship between criteria is defined by the inclusion of attributes in the attributive expressions, where a selected criterion depends on another criterion if its domain of applicability includes at least one attribute by the other criterion. A generating polyhierarchy of criteria is automatically established by the dependence relationships between the criteria. The generating polyhierarchy of criteria implicitly defines an induced polyhierarchy of classification categories.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to construction and / or description of polyhierarchical classifications, and, in particular, to construction and / or description of computer-stored polyhierarchical multi-criteria classifications with intrinsic recognition of domains of classification criteria applicability and simultaneous (random) access to applicable classification criteria. 2. Description of the Related Art Classification of sets of arbitrary entities such as objects, relations, processes, concepts, subjects, etc, is a basic paradigm used by both the human mind and present-day information technologies for storage, retrieval, analysis and systematization of knowledge. The kernel principle of classification is decomposition of a classified set into a number of classes (categories) in accordance with a system of rules (criteria). If categories are ordered by a directed relationship, such as “abstract-concrete”, “general-specifi...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

In one aspect of the present invention, a method for providing a polyhierarchical classification is provided. The method includes identifying properties of objects considered useful for distinguishing the objects under classification. A plurality of criteria are identified for specializing the identified properties of the objects. Each criterion of the plurality of criteria is defined by a set of mutually exclusive attributes so that a single classified object can be assigned no more than one attribute by the same criterion. A form is chosen for attributive expressions that describe classification categories. The attributive expressions are information structures encoding logical formulas that define compositions of object properties in terms of attributes from the plurality of criteria, and the form of the attributive expressions is customizable. A domain of applicability is identified for each criterion. The domains of applicability are representable...

Problems solved by technology

If that graph is stored “as is” (i.e., without cumbersome auxiliary descriptions) finding a path requires a combinatorial search of intermediate vertices, and the cost of it dramatically increases with the complexity of the polyhierarchy.

However, in a general case, such optimization would lead to a no less dramatic increase in data storage requirements.

Therefore, an effective solution of this problem is not possible for descriptions in terms of conventional DAGs.

In some cases, however, definition of categories solely by means of a conjunction of features may not be sufficient.

The first problem is that criteria are semantically related, which causes numerous identically empty categories.

The second problem lies in the non-uniqueness of object categorization.

These examples illustrate that classifications based exclusively on conjunctions of elementary specializations do not always allow for a neat implementation.

Therefore, assigning more than one attribute by the same criterion to an object results in a contradictive specialization of its properties.

This may imply, for example, that properties of the object cannot be definitely specialized due to the lack of available information on that object.

However, in a general case, generalizing a category by extending one of its branch unions can result in violating domains of definitions of the criteria participating in a given attributive expression.

In principle, it may be possible that a proposed formalism, even with the branch union generalization, turns out not to be convenient enough for the construction of a classification.

Third, the semantics of the formalism considered does not allow the description of relations between categories that results from the semantical relation of criteria, because there are no criteria reflecting such relations.

However, in spite of the perceived similarity of the formalisms used, the instant approach is conceptually different from the granular computing technology.

In the development of particular applications, additional technical challenges may arise that may be resolved with the knowledge of application functionality and specific features of the particular polyhierarchical classification.

In some cases, this may lead to such a complexity of sub-trees of the induced polyhierarchy that they no longer allow for an observable graphical representation.

In this case, the use of the “three-window interface” (see, for example, the description accompanying FIG. 12 in the section titled “Illustrative Embodiments of a Graphical User Interface”) becomes difficult, as well as the use of any other graphical interface based on the sub-trees visualization.

On the other hand, classifications built with intensive use of branch unions may not be able to be implemented efficiently in terms of unions of simple collections.

However, when optimized for particular applications, those configurations may require modification and / or supplementation by additional elements.

Images