Determining utility functions from ordenal rankings
First Claim
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1. A method for determining a utility function based upon paired preferences amongst objects, the method comprising:
- inputting ordered pairs of said objects, wherein;
each of said objects is represented by an attribute vector and associated with goods and services,a number of said objects inputted is less than a total number of objects being ordered; and
ordering of each pair of said objects is determined by a user;
initializing a neural network for training;
computing a change in parameter weights of said neural network for each ordered pair of said objects inputted, wherein said change in parameter weights comprises an average change in said parameter weights for all possible pairs of said total number of objects;
calculating an error measure associated with a utility function;
revising said utility function in response to said error measure;
performing the calculating of said error measure and the revising until said error measure results in a user-defined difference between an ordered output of the ordered pairs of said objects inputted; and
automatically generating a ranked list of said total number of objects associated with numerical values of said ordered output and said goods and services, and based on the utility function as an output.
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Abstract
A user'"'"'s preference structure in respect of alternative “objects” with which the user is presented is captured in a multi-attribute utility function. The user ranks these competing objects in order of the user'"'"'s relative preference for such objects. A utility function that defines the user'"'"'s preference structure is provided as output on the basis of this relative ranking. This technique can be used to assist a buyer in selecting between multi-attribute quotes or bids submitted by prospective suppliers to the buyer.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for determining a utility function based upon paired preferences amongst objects, the method comprising:
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inputting ordered pairs of said objects, wherein; each of said objects is represented by an attribute vector and associated with goods and services, a number of said objects inputted is less than a total number of objects being ordered; and ordering of each pair of said objects is determined by a user; initializing a neural network for training; computing a change in parameter weights of said neural network for each ordered pair of said objects inputted, wherein said change in parameter weights comprises an average change in said parameter weights for all possible pairs of said total number of objects; calculating an error measure associated with a utility function; revising said utility function in response to said error measure; performing the calculating of said error measure and the revising until said error measure results in a user-defined difference between an ordered output of the ordered pairs of said objects inputted; and automatically generating a ranked list of said total number of objects associated with numerical values of said ordered output and said goods and services, and based on the utility function as an output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A program storage device readable by computer, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method of determining a utility function based upon paired preferences amongst objects, the method comprising:
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inputting ordered pairs of said objects, wherein; each of said objects is represented by an attribute vector and associated with goods and services, a number of said objects inputted is less than a total number of objects being ordered; and ordering of each pair of said objects is determined by a user; initializing a neural network for training; computing a change in parameter weights of said neural network for each ordered pair of said objects inputted, wherein said change in parameter weights comprises an average change in said parameter weights for all possible pairs of said total number of objects; calculating an error measure associated with a utility function; revising said utility function in response to said error measure; performing the calculating of said error measure and the revising until said error measure results in a user-defined difference between an ordered output of the ordered pairs of said objects inputted; and automatically generating a ranked list of said total number of objects associated with numerical values of said ordered output and said goods and services, and based on the utility function as an output. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification