Trajectory Pattern Recognition with Fuzzy Clustering and Multiple Imputation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for analyzing high-dimensional longitudinal data with missing values are inadequate, as they fail to accurately and stably identify patterns, particularly in real-time applications and scenarios with non-normal distributions and multiple cluster memberships.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that integrates multiple imputation and fuzzy clustering, along with enhanced projection pursuit, to dynamically visualize and validate trajectory patterns in high-dimensional data, handling missing values and non-normal distributions, and allowing for real-time analysis and robust pattern recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If classic clustering methods are used for high-dimensional longitudinal data, then the analysis process is simple, but the accuracy and stability of pattern recognition deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern recognition accuracyVSAvoidanalysis method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple imputation techniques with fuzzy clustering algorithms to create an integrated analysis framework. This merging of statistical methods allows the system to handle missing data through multiple imputation while simultaneously capturing cluster membership uncertainty through fuzzy logic, thereby improving pattern recognition accuracy in high-dimensional longitudinal data without requiring overly complex separate processing steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the clustering approach by changing from crisp membership parameters to fuzzy membership parameters. This parameter change allows data points to have degrees of membership across multiple clusters rather than forced binary classification, significantly improving the stability and accuracy of pattern recognition for longitudinal data where subjects may exhibit multiple behavioral patterns over time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If data with missing values is analyzed using traditional methods, then the analysis process is straightforward, but the reliability of results deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresult reliabilityVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs multiple imputation as a preliminary action before clustering analysis. By generating multiple plausible values for missing data points and creating multiple completed datasets beforehand, the system establishes a robust foundation for subsequent clustering that accounts for uncertainty in missing values, thereby improving result reliability without adding complexity during the main analysis phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback loops where clustering results inform the imputation process and vice versa. The fuzzy clustering outcomes provide feedback about data structure that can guide refined imputation, while the multiple imputed datasets provide feedback about uncertainty that shapes the fuzzy membership calculations, creating a self-correcting system that enhances reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If high-dimensional data is projected to lower-dimensional space, then visualization is improved, but information loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata visualization capabilityVSAvoiddata structure information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensionality reduction techniques to project high-dimensional longitudinal data into lower-dimensional spaces for visualization while preserving key structural information. By carefully selecting projection methods and maintaining fuzzy membership relationships across dimensions, the system enables effective visualization of complex patterns without completely losing the underlying data structure or cluster relationships

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Measurement precision

If fuzzy clustering is applied to handle multiple cluster memberships, then the accuracy of subject classification improves, but the computational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesubject classification accuracyVSAvoidcomputational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements fuzzy clustering that allows subjects to have partial memberships in multiple clusters rather than requiring complete classification into single clusters. This partial action approach provides sufficient classification accuracy for longitudinal behavioral data where subjects naturally exhibit multiple patterns, while avoiding the excessive computational burden of more sophisticated hierarchical or probabilistic models by using optimized fuzzy logic algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11023820B2System and methods for trajectory pattern recognition
Publication Date: 2021.06.01 UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS
  • US11023820B2 patent drawing
  • US11023820B2 patent drawing
  • US11023820B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A multiple imputation (MI) based fuzzy clustering with visualization-aided MI validation that improves the accuracy and the stability of identified patterns, generally the structure of HD data with missing values.