Method of building persistent polyhierarchical classifications based on polyhierarchies of classification criteria
First Claim
1. A method for providing a polyhierarchical classification, the method comprising:
- identifying properties of objects considered useful for distinguishing objects under classification;
identifying a plurality of criteria for specializing the identified properties of the objects, wherein 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;
choosing a form of attributive expressions for describing classification categories, wherein the attributive expressions are information structures encoding logical formulas that define compositions of object properties in terms of attributes from the plurality of criteria, while the form of the attributive expressions is customizable; and
identifying a domain of applicability for each criterion, wherein the domains of applicability are representable by attributive expressions composed of attributes from other criteria or the empty attributive expression, and a dependence relationship between criteria is defined by the inclusion of attributes in the attributive expressions, wherein a selected criterion depends on another criterion if the attributive expression defining its domain of applicability includes at least one attribute by the other criterion, and a generating polyhierarchy of criteria is automatically established by the dependence relationships between the criteria, wherein, the attributive expressions identifying domains of applicability of criteria, define corresponding root categories in the polyhierarchical classification, wherein each criterion originates from its respective root category, and when established, the generating polyhierarchy of criteria implicitly defines an induced polyhierarchy of classification categories without requiring an explicit enumeration of the categories and an ordering between them.
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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.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A method for providing a polyhierarchical classification, the method comprising:
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identifying properties of objects considered useful for distinguishing objects under classification;
identifying a plurality of criteria for specializing the identified properties of the objects, wherein 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;
choosing a form of attributive expressions for describing classification categories, wherein the attributive expressions are information structures encoding logical formulas that define compositions of object properties in terms of attributes from the plurality of criteria, while the form of the attributive expressions is customizable; and
identifying a domain of applicability for each criterion, wherein the domains of applicability are representable by attributive expressions composed of attributes from other criteria or the empty attributive expression, and a dependence relationship between criteria is defined by the inclusion of attributes in the attributive expressions, wherein a selected criterion depends on another criterion if the attributive expression defining its domain of applicability includes at least one attribute by the other criterion, and a generating polyhierarchy of criteria is automatically established by the dependence relationships between the criteria, wherein, the attributive expressions identifying domains of applicability of criteria, define corresponding root categories in the polyhierarchical classification, wherein each criterion originates from its respective root category, and when established, the generating polyhierarchy of criteria implicitly defines an induced polyhierarchy of classification categories without requiring an explicit enumeration of the categories and an ordering between them. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification