Nominal population metric: clustering of nominal application attributes

• US 20080183731A1
• Filed: 01/23/2008
• Published: 07/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auburn University
• Original Assignee: Auburn University
• Inventors: Gilbert, Juan E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,612,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G04F 3/00 Apparatus which can be set and started to measure-off predetermined or adjustably-fixed time intervals with driving mechanisms, e.g. dosimeters with clockwork
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2457 with adaptation to user needs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2462 Approximate or statistical queries

Abstract

Clustering of nominal attributes using a nominal population metric enables comparisons of entities which are not easily comparable. In some embodiments, nominal population metrics are determined using a similarity matrix and a nominal population matrix using comparisons. In some embodiments, nominal population metrics are determined using a nominal population matrix using distributions. A computing device is able to determine the nominal population metrics with the appropriate hardware and applications configured for computing the nominal population metrics.

Claims

1. A method of determining nominal population metrics using a computing device comprising:

a. comparing one or more attributes from a plurality of entities to obtain one or more difference measures;

b. determining a coverage percentage for attribute pairs based on the one or more attributes; and

c. storing the coverage percentage in a memory of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the coverage percentage is determined by the occurrence frequency of the attribute pairs.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising determining an inverse coverage percentage by subtracting the coverage percentage from 100%.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising selecting one or more entities from the plurality of entities based in part on the inverse coverage percentage.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more attributes include at least one of race, gender, major, extra curricular activity, wealth, nationality and country of origin.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of entities are selected from the group consisting of admissions applications, job applications and scholarships.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the difference measures are contained within a similarity matrix.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the attribute pairs and the coverage percentage are contained in a nominal population matrix.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance and a gaming console.

10. A method of determining nominal population metrics using a computing device comprising:

a. determining a plurality of distributions for one or more attributes from a plurality of entities;

b. determining nominal differences based on the plurality of distributions; and

c. storing the nominal differences in a memory of the computing device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the nominal differences are determined by multiplying two distributions of the plurality of distributions and subtracting the product from 1.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising selecting one or more entities from the plurality of entities based in part on the nominal differences.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the one or more attributes include at least one of race, gender, major, extra curricular activity, wealth, nationality and country of origin.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the plurality of entities are selected from the group consisting of admissions applications, job applications and scholarships.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance and a gaming console.

16. A method of determining nominal population metrics using a computing device comprising:

a. generating a first matrix comprising;

i. a first identification column identifying a first set of entities;

ii. a second identification column identifying a second set of entities; and

iii. a difference measure column containing a difference amount between a first entity identified in the first identification column and a second entity identified in the second identification column;

b. generating a second matrix comprising;

i. an attribute pair column containing a set of attribute pairs; and

ii. a coverage column containing coverage data based on similarities of the attribute pairs in the attribute pair column;

c. generating a third matrix comprising;

i. the attribute pair column containing the set of attribute pairs; and

ii. an inverse coverage column containing inverse coverage data based on the coverage data; and

d. storing the third matrix in a memory of the computing device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the inverse coverage data is the result of the coverage data subtracted from 100%.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the set of attribute pairs is related to at least one of race, gender, major, extra curricular activity, wealth, nationality and country of origin.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first set of entities and the second set of entities are selected from the group consisting of admissions applications, job applications and scholarships.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a laptop computer, a computer workstation, a server, a mainframe computer, a handheld computer, a personal digital assistant, a cellular/mobile telephone, a smart appliance and a gaming console.

21. A method of determining nominal population metrics using a computing device comprising:

a. generating a matrix comprising;

i. an attribute column containing a plurality of attributes; and

ii. a distribution column containing distribution percentages of the plurality of attributes;

b. computing a nominal difference utilizing the distribution percentages of the plurality of attributes from the distribution column; and

c. storing the nominal difference in a memory in the computing device.

22. A computing device comprising:

a. a processor;

b. a memory coupled to the processor; and

c. an application stored in the memory and processed by the processor, the application for;

i. comparing one or more attributes from a plurality of entities to obtain a difference measure; and

ii. determining a coverage percentage for attribute pairs based on the one or more attributes.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein the coverage percentage is determined by the occurrence frequency of the attribute pairs.

24. The device of claim 22 wherein the application further determines an inverse coverage percentage from the coverage percentage by subtracting the coverage percentage from 100%.

25. An apparatus comprising:

a. a processing component;

b. a memory component coupled to the processing component; and

c. an application component stored in the memory component and processed by the processing component, the application component for;

i. comparing one or more attributes from a plurality of entities to obtain a difference measure; and

ii. determining a coverage percentage for attribute pairs based on the one or more attributes.