System and Method for Generation of Attribute Driven Temporal Clustering

• US 20100325148A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 12/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optuminsight, Inc. (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Ingenix Incorporated (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Anderson, David R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,753,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/769
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3325 Reformulation based on results of preceding query

Abstract

System and methods for rapid generation of attribute driven temporal clustering are provided. In one embodiment, the system includes a data storage device and a server. The data storage device may be configured to store a database comprising a plurality of records. The system may also include a server in data communication with the data storage device. The server may be suitably programmed to receive a first attribute and a second attribute, search a database stored on a data storage device to obtain a first group of records associated with the first attribute, search the first group of records to obtain a second group of records associated with the second attribute, determine a temporal relationship between a first index date of a first attribute and a second index date of the second attribute, and generate an output comprising a graphical representation of the temporal relationship.

Claims

1. A method for temporal clustering of records comprising:

receiving a first attribute and a second attribute;

searching a database stored on a data storage device to obtain a first group of records associated with the first attribute;

searching, with a processing device, the first group of records to obtain a second group of records associated with the second attribute;

determining, with a processing device, a temporal relationship the first attribute and the second attribute; and

generating an output comprising a graphical representation of the temporal relationship.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising narrowing the first or second group of records according to a selected time window.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises counting distinct records in the second group of records.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining comprises computing a ratio of the number of distinct records in the second group and the number of distinct records in the first group.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining comprises normalizing the second attribute of records in the second group by an index date associated with the first attribute.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein determining comprises calculating one or more temporal statistics of the second group of records.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining comprises identifying and removing outliers.

8. A system for temporal clustering of records comprising:

a data storage device configured to store a database comprising a plurality of records;

a server in data communication with the data storage device, suitably programmed to;

receive a first attribute and a second attribute;

search a database stored on a data storage device to obtain a first group of records associated with the first attribute;

search, with a processing device, the first group of records to obtain a second group of records associated with the second attribute;

determine, with a processing device, a temporal relationship between a first index date of a first attribute and a second index date of the second attribute; and

generate an output comprising a graphical representation of the temporal relationship.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising narrowing the first or second group of records according to a selected time window.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein determining comprises counting distinct records in the second group of records.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein determining comprises computing a ratio of the number of distinct records in the second group and the number of distinct records in the first group.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein determining comprises normalizing the second attribute of records in the second group by an index date associated with the first attribute.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein determining comprises calculating one or more temporal statistics of the second group of records.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein determining comprises identifying and removing outliers.

15. A tangible computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer usable program code executable to perform operations comprising:

receiving a first attribute and a second attribute;

searching a database stored on a data storage device to obtain a first group of records associated with the first attribute;

searching the first group of records to obtain a second group of records associated with the second attribute;

determining a temporal relationship between a first index date of the first attribute and a second index date of the second attribute; and

generating an output comprising a graphical representation of the temporal relationship.

16. The tangible computer program product of claim 15, further comprising narrowing the first or second group of records according to a selected time window.

17. The tangible computer program product of claim 15, wherein determining comprises counting distinct records in the second group of records.

18. The tangible computer program product of claim 17, wherein determining comprises computing a ratio of the number of distinct records in the second group and the number of distinct records in the first group.

19. The tangible computer program product of claim 15, wherein determining comprises normalizing the second attribute of records in the second group by an index date associated with the first attribute.

20. The tangible computer program product of claim 19, wherein determining comprises calculating one or more temporal statistics of the second group of records.

21. The tangible computer program product of claim 20, wherein determining comprises identifying and removing outliers.