System and method for operating a non-linear model with missing data for use in electronic commerce

A method for preprocessing input electronic commerce data prior to input to a non-linear model used to control an electronic commerce system, wherein said non-linear model comprises multiple inputs, each of the inputs associated with a portion of the input electronic commerce data, wherein the input electronic commerce data include one or more outlier values, the method comprising:

• receiving and storing the input electronic commerce data;
• analyzing said input electronic commerce data to determine said one or more outlier values;
• removing said one or more outlier values, thereby generating corrected input electronic commerce data;
• and
• outputting the corrected electronic commerce data, said corrected electronic commerce data comprising the input electronic commerce data to the non-linear model.

A system for preprocessing input electronic commerce data for a non-linear model used to control an electronic commerce system, wherein said non-linear model comprises multiple inputs, each of the inputs associated with a portion of the input electronic commerce data, wherein the input electronic commerce data include one or more outlier values, comprising:

• means for receiving and storing the input electronic commerce data;
• means for analyzing said input electronic commerce data to determine said one or more outlier values;
• means for removing said one or more outlier values, thereby generating corrected input electronic commerce data;
• and
• means for outputting the corrected electronic commerce data, said corrected electronic commerce data comprising the input electronic commerce data to the non-linear model.

A carrier medium which stores program instructions for preprocessing input electronic commerce data prior to input to a non-linear model used to control an electronic commerce system, wherein said non-linear model comprises multiple inputs, each of the inputs associated with a portion of the input electronic commerce data, wherein the input electronic commerce data comprise one or more outlier values, wherein said program instructions are executable to:

• receive and store the input electronic commerce data;
• analyze said input electronic commerce data to determine said one or more outlier values;
• remove said one or more outlier values, thereby generating corrected input electronic commerce data;
• and
• output the corrected electronic commerce data, said corrected electronic commerce data comprising the input electronic commerce data to the non-linear model.