Finding rules and exceptions from databases

• US 6,907,415 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 06/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Database Communications Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Database Communications Incorporated
• Inventors: Liu, Yongmei, Okada, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): DAVIS, GEORGE B
• Application Number:
  US09/855,911
• Publication Number:
  US 20040015466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,491 Days
• Field of Search: 706/47
• US Class Current: 706/47
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2465 Query processing support for facilitating data mining operations in structured databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/284 Relational databases

Abstract

A method for finding rules and exceptions from a database uses four stages programmed into a computer, wherein the four stages include an adaptive stage for creating in accordance with a user'"'"'s previously inputted specifications, a parameter file of rules and exceptions finding conditions in accordance with the user'"'"'s specifications, with the file being displayed to the user; a data model stage for analyzing the parameters from the parameter file, and retrieving data from one or more databases in accordance with the parameters; a problem formulator stage for transforming the retrieved data into a formalized data structure compatible with the parameters, and creating a catalog of possible attributes; and a solving stage for generating rules and exceptions from the formalized data by using the parameters and the catalog, and sending the result to the adaptive stage.

Claims

1. A method of finding rules and exceptions from a database is characterized by adopting four stages and their realization on computers, the four stages comprising:

an adaptive stage for creating a parameter file as the rules and exceptions finding conditions according to a receipted specification that is decided by a user, and displaying a result of generated rules and exceptions to the user;

a data model stage for analyzing a series of parameters from said parameter file and retrieving data from one or more databases according to the series of parameters;

a problem formulator stage for transforming said retrieved data into a formalized data structure suitable for said series of parameters, and creating a possible catalog of attributes; and

a solving stage for generating rules and exceptions from said formalized data by using said series of parameters and said catalog, and sending the result of generated rules and exceptions to said adaptive stage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said solving stage further includes three sub-stages, comprising:

a getsupport sub-stage for computing a support number of each attribute combination from said attribute catalog;

a getrule sub-stage for determining a confidence value for the attribute combination based on said support number, and then finding the rules that can meet a condition restricted by said series of parameters, and then determining the exceptions according to said existing rules and a maximum exception number given by the parameter file; and

a getresult sub-stage for saving said rules and exceptions that are generated in said getrule sub-stage into a text file.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the getsupport sub-stage computes said support number by adopting a bitmap method which computes a bitmap value of said each attribute combination.

4. A program for the computer realization of a method to find rules and exceptions from a database characterized by adopting four stages, said four stages comprising:

an adaptive stage for both creating parameter file as the rules and exceptions finding conditions according to a receipted specification that is decided by a user, and displaying a result of generated rules and exceptions to the user;

a data model stage for both analyzing a series of parameters from said parameter file, and retrieving data from a database according to the series of parameters;

a problem formulator stage for both transforming the retrieved data into a formalized data structure suitable for the series of parameters, and creating a possible catalog of attributes; and

a solving stage for both generating rules and exceptions from the formalized data by using the series of parameters and the catalog, and sending the result of generated rules and exceptions to the adaptive stage.

5. The program of claim 4, wherein said solving stage comprises three sub-stages including:

a getsupport sub-stage for computing a support number of each attribute combination from the attribute catalog;

a getrule sub-stage for both obtaining a confidence value for each attribute combination based on the support number, and finding the rules that can meet a condition restricted by the parameter file, and then obtaining the exceptions according to the existing rules and a maximum exception number given by the parameter file; and

a getresult sub-stage for saving the rules and exceptions that are generated in getrule sub-stage into a text file.

6. The program of claim 5, wherein said getsupport stage computes the support number by adopting a bitmap method which computes a bitmap value of each attribute combination.

7. A computer readable recording medium which has recorded therein a program for the computer realization of a method used to find rules and exceptions from a database characterized by adopting four stages, the four stages comprising:

an adaptive stage for both creating a parameter file as the rules and exceptions finding conditions according to a receipted specification that is decided by a user, and displaying a result of generated rules and exceptions to the user;

a data model stage for both analyzing a series of parameters from said parameter file, and retrieving data from a database according to the series of parameters;

a problem formulator stage for both transforming the retrieved data into a formalized data structure suitable for the series of parameters, and creating a possible catalog of attributes; and

a solving stage for both generating rules and exceptions from the formalized data by using the series of parameters and the catalog, and sending the result of generated rules and exceptions to the adaptive stage.

8. The recording medium of claim 7 further including recorded therein a program for three sub-stages of said solving stage, the three sub-stages including:

a getsupport sub-stage for computing a support number of each attribute combination from the attribute catalog;

a getrule sub-stage for obtaining a confidence value for each attribute combination based on the support number, and then finding the rules that can meet a condition restricted by the parameter file, and then obtaining the exceptions according to the existing rules and a maximum exception number given by the parameter file; and

a getresult sub-stage for saving the rules and exceptions that are generated in getrule sub-stage into a text file.

9. The recording medium of claim 8 further including recorded therein, a program for said getsupport sub-stage for computing the support number by adopting a bitmap method to compute a bitmap value of each attribute combination.