Method and apparatus for using cluster compactness as a measure for generation of additional clusters for stereotyping programs

A system for partitioning a plurality of items into groups of similar items, the plurality of items corresponding to a selection history by at least one third party, the system comprising:

• a memory for storing computer readable code;
• and
• a processor operatively coupled to said memory, said processor configured to:
• partition the selection history into k clusters, k having an initial value of at least two;
• identify at least one mean item for each of the k clusters;
• assign each of the plurality of items to one of the k clusters based on a distance metric;
• determine a measure of cluster compactness for at least one of the k clusters;
• and
• increment the value of k if a predetermined criteria is not met by the measure of cluster compactness.

An article of manufacture for partitioning a plurality of items into groups of similar items, said plurality of items corresponding to a selection history by at least one third party, comprising:

• a computer readable medium having computer readable code means embodied thereon, said computer readable program code means comprising:
• a step to partition said third party selection history into k clusters;
• a step to identify at least one mean item for each of said k clusters;
• a step to assign each of said plurality of items to one of said clusters based on a distance metric;
• a step to determine a measure of cluster compactness for at least one of the k clusters;
• and
• a step to increment the value of k if a predetermined criteria is not met by the measure of cluster compactness.