Automated nonparametric content analysis for information management and retrieval

Apparatus for computationally estimating a proportion of data elements in a plurality of data categories, the apparatus comprising:

• a computer memory;
• a non-transitory storage device for data storage and retrieval;
• and
• a computer processor configured to:
• (a) receive and electronically store a first set of elements in the memory, each element in the first set being computationally assigned to one of the plurality of categories and having one of a plurality of feature profiles computationally associated therewith;
• (b) receive and electronically storing a second set of elements in the memory, each element in the second set having one of the feature profiles computationally associated therewith;
• (c) computationally define a continuous feature space having a plurality of numerical variables representing the plurality of feature profiles in the first set, the feature space being configured to discriminate between the categories and the feature profiles;
• (d) computationally construct, based at least in part on the first set, a matched set that substantially resembles the second set, each element in the matched set being associated with a plurality of numerical variables representing a plurality of feature profiles associated therewith;
• and
• (e) estimate a distribution of the elements in the second set over the categories based at least in part on (i) the numerical variables associated with the feature profiles in the matched set, and (ii) the feature profiles associated with the elements in the second set.