Adaptive Pseudo-Labeling for Unsupervised Domain Adaptation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Supervised machine learning systems face challenges in adapting to open-set configurations and domain changes without manual annotation, particularly in unsupervised domain adaptation, where hyperparameter tuning for pseudo-annotation methods is often manual and inefficient, leading to performance losses due to sensitivity to parameter choices.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method for training a supervised machine learning engine that automatically optimizes data partitioning algorithm parameters using a validation set, enabling automatic annotation of a second unannotated training set and improving similarity learning through iterative training with both pre-annotated and annotated sets, without requiring human intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual annotation is used for supervised machine learning training, then model accuracy is improved, but time consumption and cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel accuracyVSAvoidannotation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary unsupervised clustering on the target domain data before final supervised training. This preliminary action creates initial groupings that guide subsequent annotation efforts, reducing the total annotation time while maintaining model accuracy by focusing human effort on critical cases.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediate unsupervised clustering step that acts as a mediator between raw unannotated data and supervised training. This intermediary process generates initial labels or groupings that can be refined with minimal human annotation, thereby reducing overall annotation time while preserving model accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If unsupervised domain adaptation with fixed hyperparameters is used, then deployment speed is improved, but performance accuracy deteriorates due to sensitivity to parameter choices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidperformance accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts hyperparameters based on the characteristics of the target domain data. Instead of using fixed hyperparameters, the clustering algorithm adapts its parameters during the unsupervised learning phase, allowing it to optimize for both deployment speed and performance accuracy by responding to the actual data distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the performance on a validation set is used to adjust hyperparameters iteratively. This feedback loop allows the system to improve performance accuracy while maintaining relatively fast deployment by only performing a limited number of adaptive adjustments rather than exhaustive hyperparameter search.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If extensive hyperparameter tuning is performed to optimize performance, then model performance is improved, but deployment complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemodel performanceVSAvoidhyperparameter tuning complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the target domain data distribution to initialize hyperparameters in favorable ranges before the main training process. This preliminary action reduces the complexity of hyperparameter tuning by starting from informed defaults rather than requiring exhaustive search, thereby improving model performance without proportionally increasing deployment complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Measurement precision

If manual validation of pseudo-annotation quality is performed, then annotation quality is improved, but processing speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveannotation qualityVSAvoidprocessing speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service quality control through automated validation metrics that assess pseudo-annotation quality without requiring manual inspection. The unsupervised clustering algorithm includes built-in consistency checks and quality metrics that automatically evaluate the reliability of generated labels, maintaining annotation quality while preserving processing speed by eliminating manual validation steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4099228A1Automatic learning without annotation improved by adaptive groupings in open assembly of classes
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES
  • EP4099228A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4099228A1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP4099228A1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method for training a supervised machine learning engine, comprising: initializing the learning engine; then, iteratively: extracting features, by the learning engine, from a second unannotated training set, and from a pre-annotated validation set associated with a first pre-annotated training set; optimizing at least one parameter value of a data partitioning algorithm applied to the features extracted from the validation set, based on labels associated with the validation set; applying said partitioning algorithm with at least one data parameter value to the features extracted from the second training set; and automatically annotating the second training set using a plurality of pseudo-labels.each label of said plurality corresponding to a partition generated by said application; a training of the learning engine, the second annotated training set.;