Anomaly Detection Event Tree for Computational Efficiency

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing anomaly detection methods face inefficiencies due to handling large numbers of variables with unknown priorities or relevance, continuous variables with unknown value ranges, and unknown splitting effectiveness, leading to high computational complexity and potential false alarms.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of an anomaly detection technique based on an event tree structure, which leverages domain knowledge and known characteristics of event variables to apply more computationally efficient isolation, requiring fewer decision trees and avoiding bias through deterministic n-way splitting based on attribute importance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing anomaly detection methods use large numbers of variables with unknown priorities and continuous variables with unknown value ranges, then detection coverage is improved, but computational complexity increases and detection efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection coverageVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms continuous variables into discrete variables by defining specific value ranges and splitting values based on domain knowledge. This parameter transformation reduces computational complexity while maintaining detection coverage, as discrete variables require fewer comparison operations and can be efficiently handled by decision tree structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the variable space by dividing continuous variables into discrete ranges with predetermined splitting values. This segmentation creates a structured decision tree where each node handles specific variable ranges, reducing the overall computational burden compared to evaluating all continuous variables against all data points.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing methods handle variables with unknown splitting effectiveness, then comprehensive anomaly detection is achieved, but false alarms increase and detection precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection comprehensivenessVSAvoiddetection precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary analysis to determine domain knowledge and characteristics of network event variables before constructing the decision tree. Splitting values and value ranges are predetermined based on this preliminary action, which eliminates the need to evaluate all possible splitting points during anomaly detection, thereby reducing false alarms and improving detection precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If deterministic n-way splitting based on attribute importance is used, then computational efficiency is improved and resource usage is reduced, but the requirement for domain knowledge increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomputational efficiencyVSAvoiddomain knowledge requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter representation from continuous variables requiring random splitting to discrete variables with predetermined splitting values. This transformation enables deterministic n-way splitting where each node divides data into multiple branches based on attribute importance, significantly improving computational efficiency while the domain knowledge requirement is confined to the initial parameter definition phase.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4027276B1Anomaly detection based on an event tree
Publication Date: 2024.11.06 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP4027276B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4027276B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4027276B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Systems, methods, and software can be used for anomaly detection. In some aspect, a number of training events are obtained. A data structure represented by a decision tree is generated based on the number of training events. A to-be-scored event is obtained and a traversed path is determined for the to-be-scored event. An anomaly score is computed based on the traversed path and the to-be-scored event is determined to be an anomalous or normal event based on the anomaly score.