Ranking importance of symbols in underlying grouped and differentiated files based on content
AssigneeNovell, Inc.
InventorCraig N. Teerlink
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus identify groups of files based on symbols corresponding to an underlying data stream of original bits of data that are determined to be informationally important. The resulting symbols of a selected group are ordered according to how effectively each symbol characterizes the selected group of interest. The subset of symbols is used to find similar files from a general population of files to the files in the group of interest. Additionally, groups of common files can be identified from a general population of files and a group selected therefrom for use in identifying a subset of symbols which characterize the selected group for use as a filter to identify further like files.
Claims25
In a computing system environment, a method of identifying a subset of symbols from a group of symbols which most effectively characterize a group of files of a plurality of files stored on one or more computing devices, each file of said group of files having a plurality of symbols forming at least a portion of the group of symbols and representing an underlying data stream of original bits of data, comprising:
- determining an amount of information represented by each symbol of said group of symbols;
- and
- calculating a variance for said each symbol of said group of symbols.
In a computing system environment, a method of identifying a subset of symbols from a group of symbols which most effectively characterize a group of files of a plurality of files stored on one or more computing devices, each file of said plurality of files having a plurality of symbols forming at least a portion of the group of symbols and representing an underlying data stream of original bits of data, comprising:
- identifying said group of files of said plurality of files;
- determining an amount of information represented by each symbol of said group of symbols;
- ordering said group of symbols based on said amount of information;
- and
- calculating a variance for a portion of said ordered symbols.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.