Method and device for clustering categorical data and identifying anomalies, outliers, and exemplars

Abstract

One aspect of the invention is a method for assigning categorical data to a plurality of clusters. An example of the method includes identifying a plurality of categories associated with the data. This example also includes, for each category in the plurality of categories, identifying at least one element associated with the category. This example also includes specifying a number of clusters to which the data may be assigned. This example additionally includes assigning at least some of the data, wherein each assigned datum is assigned to a respective one of the clusters. This example further includes, for at least one of the clusters, determining, for at least one category, the frequency in data assigned to the cluster of at least one element associated with the category. Further, some examples of the invention provide for detecting outliers, anomalies, and exemplars in the categorical data.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.